The Emmet County Community Foundation (ECCF) held its 2022 grant awards celebration at the VFW Hall on June 29, announcing the distribution of $135,050 to 20 projects of organizations serving Emmet County through its 2022 grant cycle.

“These nonprofit organizations are great examples of work being done to improve the quality of life in Emmet County and the Emmet County Community Foundation is honored to support them,” said Robin Enerson, chair of the ECCF governing committee.

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

Community Betterment

• City of Armstrong, Pool Safety Equipment Upgrade, $2,600
• City of Ringsted, Library – Building Renovation, $5,000
• City of Wallingford, City Hall – Heating/Cooling Update, $6,000
• Estherville Firefighters Association, PPE Fire Gear, $10,000
• Ringsted Community Improvement Organization, RCIO Project Special Delivery, $13,700
• VFW Post 3388, Improving the Infrastructure, $5,225
• Wallingford Community Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Upgrading Equipment for Patient Care & Fire Fighter Safety, $7,700

Education & Youth Development

• Emmet County ISU Extension, Farm Safety Day, $1,375
• Estherville Lincoln Central Community School Foundation, Demoney Elementary Playground Equipment, $10,000
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education in Emmet County Schools, $3,000

Environmental & Animal Welfare

• Emmet County Nature Center Foundation, Educational Building Concrete and Parking Area, $10,000
• Emmet County Water Trails, Emmet County Water Trails Kayak Rental, $15,000
• Izaak Walton League of Emmet County, Replacement Trap Thrower, $3,000
• N-Compass, Inc., Iowa Project AWARE 2022, $7,500

Health

• Emmet County – Auditor, Public Health – Healthy Beginnings Family Support, $1,500
• Iowa Great Lakes Ambulance Service, Stryker Power Cot, $11,350

Human Service

• Food Bank of Iowa, Fighting Childhood Hunger in Emmet County, $10,000
• Grandview Baptist Church, Free Community Breakfast, $2,700
• Seasons Center for Behavioral Health, Camp Autumn Therapeutic Respite Care, $4,600
• Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc., Coats For Kids, $4,800

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

Grants are awarded through ECCF’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 Emmet County in order to be considered for funding. The 2023 grant cycle opens January 1 with an application deadline of March 1. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.emmetccf.org.