Et cetera : Benton County Community Foundation Annual Grant Ceremony Held

The Benton County Community Foundation held its annual grant awards ceremony on July 26, announcing the distribution of $106,700 in grants to benefit 31 projects of nonprofits and government agencies serving Benton County communities.

“The work these deserving organizations do to create a stronger county is critical to making our communities places where everyone can thrive,” said Ann Jorgensen, Benton County committee chair. “The Benton County Community Foundation is proud to be a partner in their work, and we are thankful for the generosity of community-minded people who make this impact possible.”

Grant recipients and the project the grant will fund are listed below by funding areas.

Art & Culture:

· Area Community Theatre Inc of Benton County, ACT I Palace Theatre Roofing Upgrade

· Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation, Belle Plaine Audio Tour Map

· Vinton-Shellsburg Schools, Elementary Art Department Resident Artist Project

Community Betterment:

· Atkins Improvement Mission (AIM), Atkins Soccer Park Restrooms

· Benton County Conservation Foundation, Wildcat Bluff Playground

· Benton Development Group, Entrepreneurial Development and Community Engagement Initiative

· City of Belle Plaine, Aquatic Center Improvements

· City of Garrison, Garrison Library Automation

· Newhall American Legion Post 167, Newhall American Legion Building Handicap Accessibility Project

· Norway Beautification Committee, Norway Baseball Park Restroom Remodel & Enlargement to Handicap Accessibility

· Vinton Community Foundation, Vinton Boy Scout Troop 47

Education:

· Benton Community School District, Atkins Elementary- Benton Community- MakerSpace

· Vinton-Shellsburg Schools, Vinton Popcorn Company

Environment:

· Benton County Solid Waste Disposal Commission, Asphalt Shingle and Glass Recycling Project

· The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, Wetland Restoration Upstream of Vinton for Reduced Flood Risk and Improved Water Quality

Health:

· Area Substance Abuse Council, Protecting Children from Prescription Drug Abuse

· City of Newhall, Newhall First Responders - Defibrillator

· North Benton Ambulance, Ambulance

Historic Preservation:

· Benton County, The Sheriff Leland Fry Memorial

· Benton County Historical Society, Preserving Vintage Clothing & Glass Photo Plates

· Vinton Community Foundation, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School Historical Preservation and Enhancement

· Youngville Highway History Association, Exterior Repair Projects

Human Service:

· Benton County Volunteer Program, Medical Transportation Assistance

· Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, Safe Shelter & Housing Stability

· Families, Inc., Crisis Counseling & Intervention Services

· Genesis Development, The Power of Safety in an Uncertain World

· Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Leadership and Character Building Program for Girls

· Horizons, A Family Service Alliance, Horizons Family Support Program

· North Star Community Services, Inc., Vinton Drop-In Center Program

· Vinton-Shellsburg Schools, Operation Backpack

· Young Parents Network, Young Parents Network Youth Programming

The Benton County Community Foundation is a local organization making grants to organizations creating a stronger and more vibrant quality of life in Benton County and helps people establish permanent funds for the causes they care about in their community. The Benton County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impact in 20 counties in Iowa. For more information, contact 319-287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. CFNEIA is confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.