(Le Mars) — The Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County earlier this week
distributed checks to 19 entities amounting to over $96,000 dollars. Julie Madden
of Akron serves as the chair for the Grant Review Committee and says the money is
derived from revenue at the casinos. She says with the exception of Craig, Oyens,
Struble, and Seney, each of the other Plymouth County communities received
funding.
Madden says the common thread for the entities to receive the funding is that they
must all be a non-profit organization.
On Monday evening of this week at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream parlor in Le Mars, the
Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County presented the grants. The city of
Le Mars received a check amounting to $3,925 in order to make the front doors of
city hall, handicapped accessible. Other entities in Le Mars to receive funding
included the Le Mars Ambulance Service received $5,559 for Life Pak – 15 equipment
upgrades. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department were given $4,400 for a large
diameter hose replacement to be used on fire hydrants. The outdoor pool will be
able to have a lifeguard stand and a new diving board with the $4,360 allocated.
The Le Mars Public Library received $2,000 to have additional computers for
community access, and the Plymouth County Historical Museum received a total of
$4,312 for a windmill restoration project near the log cabin complex.
Madden explains, one of the recipients from Hinton to receive funding is the Lucky
Leprechauns. She says the organization first got its start several years ago when
a Hinton student saw a need to provide coats to other students.
Other Hinton organizations include the Hinton school received $9,897 for its
Wellness Center treadmills. Plymouth County Conservation Board got a check in the
amount of $9,720 for the new River’s Bend County Park for campground fixtures.
Kingsley will utilize its allocation of $10,000 for the installation of disability
accessible playground equipment, and the town of Kingsley was awarded $5,400 for
the landscaping of the new Plymouth County Freedom Rock which will include flag
poles and benches. The Kingsley Dwelling Teen Center will utilize its $4,439 to
make its building handicapped accessible and general improvements.
The town of Merrill hopes to make improvements to its Park shelter house with the
$8,650 it has received. In Remsen, money has been allocated to the city in the
amount of $6,228 for ball park playground equipment. Mid-Sioux Opportunity was
given $5,000 for technology enhancements, and the Remsen Public Library received
$1,500 for Lego toy blocks.
In Akron, funding in the amount of $2,621 will be devoted to the purchase of cribs
and high chairs for the Akron Children’s Center. Another $5,000 will go to the
Akron Parks and Recreation in order to have some tree improvements.
Brunsville received a total of $1,570 which will be used to feature some tree
lighting at the Veterans Memorial.
