The Benton County Community Foundation (BCCF) on January 22, announced the distribution of $149,028 to 17 projects of organizations serving Benton County through its 2024 grant cycle.

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

Arts & Culture:

• Area Community Theatre of Benton County - Light Up the Palace 25th Anniversary - $13,125

Community Betterment:

• Belle Plaine Fire Department Foundation Inc - BP Fire Equipment - $11,500
• City of Blairstown - Recreation Board - Ball Diamond Upgrade - $12,038
• City of Shellsburg - Library - Interior Painting - $10,678
• City of Van Horne - Administration - Park Sidewalks - $9,375
• Van Horne Firemans Association, Inc. - Personal Protective Equipment - $6,512
• Wesley United Methodist Church - Vinton - ADA Bathrooms - $10,000

Education & Youth Development:

• Better Tomorrows Early Childhood Iowa - County-Wide Initiatives - $5,000
• City of Van Horne - Library - Summer Program - $5,000
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa - Dream, Believe, Achieve: Youth Education Programs - $10,000
• Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District - Care for Kids - $17,000

Health

• North Benton Ambulance - Training Equipment - $7,000

Human Service

• Benton County Food Pantry - Benton County Food Pantry Partnerships - $9,500
• Families Helping Families of Iowa - Support for Foster Children in Benton County - $5,000
• Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc - Benton County Rural Senior Services Site Capacity - $5,000
• North Star Community Services, Inc. - Community Living & Integration - $5,300
• Waypoint Services - Domestic Violence Victim Services Program - $7,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Benton County. Committee members include Brian McNulty (Chair), Teresa Cretin, Mindy Fisher, Kassie Mather, Jackie McDermott, Manda McKinley, Tracy Papesh, Phil Shaff, Christine Turner, and Dusti Winkie. BCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process include the Philip and Phyllis Borleske Community Impact Fund and the Marlyn and Ann Jorgensen Community Impact Fund.

Grants are awarded through BCCF’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 Benton County in order to be considered for funding. The 2025 grant cycle opens September 1 with an application deadline of October 15. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.bentonccf.org.