HCCF distributes over $129K

LIME SPRINGS - The Howard County Community Foundation (HCCF) held its 2022 grant awards celebration at the Lime Springs Community Center on April 19, announcing the distribution of $129,801.92 to 25 projects of organizations serving Howard County through its 2022 grant cycle. 

“The Howard County Community Foundation is proud to support these nonprofit agencies and government organizations to ensure they are able to offer the programs and services which create more vibrant communities for all people in Howard County,” said Ronda Hughes, chair of the HCCF governing committee. 

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund and grant amount is listed below by funding area. 

 

Arts & Culture 

• City of Cresco, Cresco Theatre – PA System Expansion and Microphones, $6,318.92 

 

Community Betterment 

• City of Chester, Community Club – Community Center Flooring Project, $5,000 

• City of Chester, Fire & Rescue – Air Packs (SCBA), $5,000 

• City of Chester, Parks & Recreation – Basketball Court/Ice Rink, $5,000 

• City of Cresco, Fire Department – Radio Communications Upgrade, $4,000 

• City of Cresco, Police Department – Active Shooter Vest, $3,000 

• City of Elma, Elma Community Complex Exterior Renovations, $10,000 

• City of Lime Springs, Fire Department – Generator for Fire Station and Community Center, $15,000 

• City of Lime Springs, Pool Board – Painting for 2022, $2,000 

• Firefighters of Elma, Elma Emergency Service Building, $15,000 

• Howard County – Auditor, Sheriff’s Office – Body Armor, $1,233 

• Lubbert’s Park in Saratoga, Safer and Enjoyable Park, $2,000 

• Protivin Community Fire District, Turnout Gear Lockers: PCFD FY22, $3,000 

• Protivin Firefighters Inc., New Protivin Fire Station FY22, $15,000 

• Riceville Community Foundation, Inc., Riceville Community Club – Splash Pad, $6,000 

 

Education & Youth 

Development 

• Elma Early Childhood Center, Carpeting for Addition and Existing Daycare, $5,000 

• Howard County Child Care Association – Kessel Kids, Sensory Solutions, $2,000 

• Howard-Winneshiek School District, Crestwood Secondary JH and HS – Cadet Zone Expansion, $2,500 

• Trinity Catholic School, Lower Elementary – iPad and Projector Updates, $3,000 

 

Health 

• American Red Cross – Blood Services, 2022 Blood Drive Rent for Community Center, $1,000 

• Howard County – Auditor, EMS – Choking Equipment, $2,000 

• Riceville Ambulance Service, Stryker Powerload Gurney System, $10,000 

 

Human Service 

• Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Feeding Communities, $2,500 

• Riceville Community Foundation, Inc., Elf Shop, $1,750 

• Riceville Food Pantry, Feeding the Hungry, $2,500 

 

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Howard County. Committee members include Alice Back, Kristen Burke, Rosalie Christensen, Becky Fritcher, Ronda Hughes (chair), Amanda Keller, Chas Malek, Ryan Manske, Al Voyna, Bruce Weigel, Bart Wilson and Jim Zajicek. 

Grants are awarded through HCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. 

Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Howard County in order to be considered for funding. 

The 2023 grant cycle opens Dec. 1, 2022, with an application deadline of Jan. 31, 2023. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.howardccf.org.  

The Howard County Community Foundation and Elma Area Community Foundation’s 2021 annual reports showed a total of $230,446 in grants from all charitable giving funds awarded to organizations benefitting Howard County residents and communities.

A total of $14,144 in grants were awarded from the Elma Area Community Foundation. 

Since establishment in 2005, $1.6 million in grants have been awarded from the Howard County Community Foundation and $129,696 in grants have been awarded from the Elma Area Community Foundation.