The Emmet County Community Foundation announced $102,275 in grant funding to 21 projects of organizations serving Emmet County as part of its 2020 grant cycle.

The Community Foundation made the decision to not hold its annual award celebration due to COVID-19. Grant checks will be mailed directly to the nonprofit organizations.

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

Community Betterment

• Armstrong Betterment Club, Park Improvement, $6,000
• City of Ringsted, Legion Auxiliary - Community Center Furnace/AC, $5,000
• Emmet County Driftbusters, Groomer and Trail Map Updating, $3,500
• Izaak Walton League of Emmet County, Bleacher Seats Rehab, $2,500

Education

• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education for Emmet County Schools, $2,000

Environment

• Emmet County Nature Center Foundation, Multi-Purpose Educational Building, $10,000

Health

• Emmet County, Public Health - Healthy Beginnings Family Support, $1,500
• Emmet County ISU Extension, Farm Safety Day, $1,205
• Lutheran Services in Iowa, Community Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Emmet County, $1,000
• Northwest Iowa Mental Health Center (dba Seasons Center), Services for Children in Emmet County, $4,160

Historic Preservation

• City of Ringsted, Friends of the Ringsted Library - Digitizing Ringsted Dispatch, $4,000
• Emmet County Historical Society, Museum Grounds and Exhibit Improvement, $2,300

Human Service

• Armstrong Fire Department, SCBA Fill Station, $10,000
• City of Estherville, Police Department - Programs/Equipment, $8,975
• City of Gruver, Fire Department - Bunker Gear, $10,000
• Emmet County, Emergency Management - Four Gas Monitors, $7,883
• Emmet County, Sheriff's Office - Reserve Protective Equipment Project, $4,425
• Emmet County Emergency Responders Association, EMS Training, $5,100
• Estherville Firefighters Association Incorporated, Search and Recovery, $5,900
• Estherville National Guard, Supporting Families, $1,000

Wallingford Community Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Tools Needed to Better Our Department and Community, $5,827

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Emmet County. Committee members include: Robin Enerson, Tena Hanson (chair), Jean Hoffman, Laura Hoffman, Autumn Larsen, Craig Madsen, Mary Moorman, Diane Nelsen, Dr. Cory Rezac and Jim Rosendahl.

Grants are awarded through Emmet County Community Foundation’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of: art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Emmet County in order to be considered for funding. The 2021 grant cycle opens January 1, 2021 with an application deadline of March 1, 2021. The grant guidelines and application will be posted prior to the cycle opening at emmetccf.org.