The Worth County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its 2019 grant celebration at Fertile City Hall on January 9, where $48,813 in grants were distributed to 13 projects of organizations serving Worth County.

“The impact these dollars will make in Worth County is important to highlight,” said Lucy Heiken, WCCF Committee Chair. “One application in particular stood out this year. A devastating fire in September 2018 destroyed the library, city hall, and community center in the City of Joice. The Worth County Community Foundation felt it was essential to grant $15,000, more than what was initially requested, to the city’s reconstruction project. Strengthening and creating more vibrant communities is at the core of what we do, and the committee wanted to support the City of Joice as much as possible with their rebuild efforts.”

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

Art and Culture

• Worth County ISU Extension, 4-H Arena Canopy Feasibility Study, $2,125

Community Betterment

• City of Fertile, Fertile Garden Club - Golf Cart and Water Tank Sprayer, $3,471
• City of Joice, Library, City Hall and Community Center Reconstruction Project, $15,000

Education

• Lake Mills Family Center, Preschool Materials, $1,500
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Ag Education for Youth in Worth County, $2,500
• North Iowa Area Community College Foundation, NIACC Health Education Lab Renovations and Improved Patient Care Stations, $3,000
• Northwood-Kensett Community School District, 6th Grade Garden Project, $1,200

Health

• Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Material Aid, $5,000
• N-K Booster Club, Viking Activity Center, $2,500

Historic Preservation

• Bolan Schoolhouse & Cultural Center, Grandma Sina's House, $1,500

Human Service

• Crisis Intervention Service, Violence Prevention, $1,000
• Northwood Senior Citizens Center, Northwood Senior Center Interior, $6,000
• Serenity Acres, Port-A-Potty and Hand Washing Station, $4,017

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Worth County. Committee members include: Merlin Bartz, Craig Benjegerdes, Keven Bruesewitz, Ronald Davidson, Lucy Heiken (chair), Linda Johnson Prestholt, Pat Muehl (ex-officio), Chad Nelson, Cindy Peters, John Tenold and Mark Thoma.

Grants are awarded through WCCF’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 Worth County in order to be considered for funding. The 2020 grant cycle opens July 1 with an application deadline of September 30. The grant guidelines and application can be found at worthccf.org.