Floyd County Community Foundation awards more than $100,000

Grants going to health, community, culture initiatives

By Kate Hayden

khayden@charlescitypress.com

In just about an hour on Wednesday night, the Floyd County Community Foundation (FCCF) awarded a total of $109,285.61 to area organizations.

Grant awards went to everything from a Charles City Boy Scout troop’s pedal car fundraiser, a new Aquatic Center in Nora Springs, a “Wild World of Animals” showcase for the 2016 Floyd County Fair, and the Northeast Iowa Food Bank’s Backpack Program –– just a few examples out of the 31 awards presented by the FCCF.

“We had over $330,000 requested from 45 organizations,” FCCF board member Patty Staudt said. “It’s really a hard choice.”  

Six committee members spent between 20 to 30 hours per person sifting through applications, Staudt said, reviewing requests from eligible nonprofit organizations, government bodies or charitable projects with qualified fiscal sponsors starting in September. This year’s organizations were awarded anywhere between $500 to $10,000 from the FCCF.

“It’s really heartwarming to hear all those stories, the good that all the organizations are doing. It makes us as a group feel really good that we’re able to help them out,” Staudt said.

Beginning in 2006, the FCCF has awarded nearly $1 million to Floyd County projects, Development Associate Marcie Andrews said in a press release. Grants are awarded in categories of art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human service. Applications for the next cycle of grants will open in August. Donors to the FCCF can receive a 25 percent state tax credit through the Endow Iowa Program, Andrews wrote.