The Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation (CGCCF) held its grant awards celebration at the Mason City Schools FEMA Room on July 29, announcing the distribution of $146,581 to 13 projects of organizations serving Cerro Gordo County through its 2024 grant cycle.

“The Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation is proud to uplift organizations creating an impact in our county. We are eager to see these projects come to life in our communities,” said John Drury, chair of the CGCCF committee.

The 2024 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• City of Mason City – Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Sculpture – $8,000
• The Mason City Foundation – Accessible Entryway – $10,500

Community Betterment

• American Legion Gallagher Post 208 – New Building - $20,000
• City of Swaledale – Fire Department, Bunker Gear - $10,028
• City of Ventura – Library, Technology and Youth Area Updates - $5,000
• Meservey Area Promotional Organization – Basketball Court Resurfacing - $11,000
• Rockwell Community Fire Service – Turnout Gear Extractor and Dryer - $7,795

Education & Youth Development

• Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa – Camp Tanglefoot Waterfront Improvements - $5,400
• Sunbeam Christian Childcare & Preschool – Providing Safe, Secure Childcare - $14,000

Environment & Animal Welfare 

• Cerro Gordo County – Conservation, Accessible Dock at Lime Creek - $7,500

Human Service

• Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa – Building Community Through Homeownership - $34,800
• Northern Lights Alliance for the Homeless – Men’s Campus Fencing - $7,557
• The Community Kitchen of North Iowa, Inc. – Reach-In Commercial Freezer - $5,000

Grants are awarded through CGCCF’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 Cerro Gordo County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the CGCCF can be found at www.cerrogordoccf.org/

The Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation is a local foundation making grants to organizations creating stronger, more vibrant communities in Cerro Gordo County and helps people establish funds to support the causes they care about. The Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impacts 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.