December 20, 2024

Empowering Adair County gives 22 projects grant funds

Those present for the awarding of 2021 Empowering Adair County grant funds were, front row: Officers Katie Guisinger and Daniel Irving (City of Stuart Iowa Police Department); Dominic Johnson (Adair County Conservation Board); Jennifer Garside (Adair County Health and Fitness Center); Travis Corder (CWT Firefighters Foundation Inc.); Joe Vais (Adair Volunteer Fire Department); Heather Schneider (Boys and Girls Club of Central Southwest Iowa); second row: Gina Meisenheimer (Adair County Fair Foundation); Melinda Stonebraker (Greenfield United Methodist Church); Sean Bovinett and Matt Funk (Stuart Rescue); Brenda Dudley (Stuart Depot); Gerry Miller (Nodaway Valley Middle School); James Larson (Nodaway Valley Elementary); back row: Josh and Lisa Rardin (Adair County Hot Shots 4-H Club); Terri Raasch (Adair County Extension); Kris Schildberg (Iowa Aviation Museum); Terri Queck-Matzie (Adair County Tourism Council); Danielle Morgan (The Wallace Centers of Iowa); Kristen Walker (City of Bridgewater); Stacie Hull (Greenfield Chamber, Main Street, Development); Melissa Schwartz (Warren Cultural Center).

The Empowering Adair County Foundation (EACF) received a record 33 applications totaling $215,676.75 in requests for their October 2021 deadline. The committee was able to fund 22 projects totaling $129,568.68. Applications covered a variety of topics and programming efforts serving much of Adair County.

The organizations and projects funded were as follows:

Adair Chamber of Commerce – Sesquicentennial celebration for Adair - $4,000; Adair County Conservation Board – Adair County Youth Environmental Education & Recreation Program - $6,000; Adair County Extension – Clover Kids after school programming - $1,984; Adair County Fair Foundation – Adair County Fairgrounds sheep/goat barn electrical re-wiring - $10,000; Adair County Health and Fitness Center – Flooring upgrade - $10,000;; Adair County Health Foundation – Strategic Communications Plan for women’s health services in Adair County - $5,000; Adair County Hot Shots 4-H Club – 3-D Archery Tournament Spring and Fall - $3,000; Adair County Tourism Council – Adair County Tourism Brochure - $856; Adair Volunteer Fire Department – Adair Fire Department Extrication Tools - $10,000; Boys and Girls Club of Central Southwest Iowa – Great Futures Start here - $10,000; City of Bridgewater – Bridgewater Park final playground piece - $10,000; City of Stuart, Iowa Police Department – Stuart Police Department K-9 Unit program - $3,753.40; CWT Firefighters Foundation Inc – Thermal Imager & Gas Detector - $4,094.94; Greenfield Chamber/Main Street & Development – Public Square Beautification & Amenities Enhancement - $6,500; Greenfield United Methodist Church – Part Time Youth Coordinator - $9,600; Iowa Aviation Museum – Documenting & Researching Historical information with Iowa ties to aviation - $5,000; Nodaway Valley Elementary School – Nodaway Valley Elementary School Playground project: Phase 4- $2,000; Nodaway Valley Middle School – Middle School Outdoor Concession stand - $5,000; Stuart Depot – Stuart Rock Island Photos - $597; Stuart Rescue – Radio upgrades - $7,183.34; The Wallace Centers of Iowa – Geothermal greenhouse installation - $10,000; Warren Cultural Center – Warren Cultural Center Programming 2022 - $5,000

The Empowering Adair County Foundation currently has one annual grant cycle with applications due October 15. Groups eligible to apply include non-profit organizations with a 501c3 status, government entities such as cities, counties or schools, or other groups sponsored by one of the above.

Applications are scored and reviewed by EACF committee members based on completeness of application, benefit to Adair County residents, support of entrepreneurial activity, community and leadership development, identification of community needs and addressing community needs. The committee’s recommendations are then sent on to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines for final approval and grant disbursement.

EACF was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment and to enhance the quality of life for communities in Adair County. The Foundation is governed by a nine-member committee representing all geographic areas of Adair County.

For more information on the program, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/adair or request information from Angie Engles, EACF Administrator, by e-mailing empoweringadaircounty@gmail.com or by calling the Adair County Extension Office at 641-743-8412.