At its second annual grant celebration event, the Mills County Community Foundation honored 24 nonprofit organizations and community projects that received grants throughout the past year. These honorees included grant recipients from both Spring and Fall 2022 grant cycles who were awarded a collective sum of $305,130.

Throughout 2022, the Foundation received a total of 47 grant applications from community organizations, with more than $600,000 requested. As a part of its two grant cycles, the Mills County Community Foundation awarded $305,130 to 34 of the 47 applications.

“In 2022, we’ve been able to fund a wide array of projects and programs,” said Board Chair Chad McCollester. “Grants were awarded to support construction and renovation, recreational opportunities, and many more projects that will have a positive effect on our community members—both young and old. We’re proud of the impact of the Foundation, and we’re glad to have this opportunity to celebrate the important work of these organizations throughout Mills County.”

Each year, the Mills County Community Foundation holds two grant cycles with the objective of funding projects that will have a lasting impact in the county.

“Since the Foundation was established in 1997, it has infused more than $6.1 million in grants and scholarships to support organizations and individuals across the county,” said Iowa Foundations Director Sunni Kamp. “This speaks to the generous, philanthropic spirit of our communities. With the support of our donors, charitable funds allocated through the community foundation, and our participation in the County Endowment Fund Program, we can continue to invest valuable resources back into projects and initiatives throughout Mills County.”

The Mills County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. Each year it receives funds from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. The spring cycle of grants is made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

The Foundation’s fall grant cycle is made possible through the generosity of donors to the Mills County Community Foundation. The Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Mills County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Advisory board members of the Mills County Community Foundation are Chair, Chad McCollester of Silver City; Vice Chair, Liz Baldwin of Hastings; Secretary/Treasurer, Kathy Reisner of Glenwood; Jennifer Gee of Imogene; Keith Johnson of Mineola; and Kate McGann of Malvern.

 

Spring 2022 Grant Recipients:

  • City of Emerson – $30,000, Evans Park Restroom
  • City of Henderson – $30,000, All-Inclusive Playground
  • Emerson Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association – $3,420, Thermal Imaging Camera
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department – $9,500, Confined Space Equipment
  • Hastings Fire and First Responders – $3,300, Nozzles, Adapters, & Generator Transfer Switch
  • Malvern Volunteer Fire Department – $8,000, Assorted Fire Equipment
  • Mills County Fair Association –  $2,000, Wireless Sound System
  • Mills County Historical Museum – $4,000, Automatic ADA Swing Door
  • Mills County YMCA – $7,000, YMCA Safety & Sanitation Upgrades
  • Mineola Community Center and Historical Society – $3,500, Entrance Ramp Improvements
  • Nishna Productions, Inc. – $4,510, Raizer Lift Up Chair
  • Oak Township Fire and Rescue – $3,000, Building Modifications: Phase One
  • Pacific Junction First Responders Association Inc. – $5,000, Hand Tools and Equipment
  • Silver City Ambulance –  $7,000, Life and Cardiac Care
  • Silver City Historical Society – $4,000, Construction of ADA Accessible Ramp
  • Silver City Library – $2,500, Updating Bathroom
  • Silver City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department – $7,000, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Fall 2022 Grant Recipients:

  • City of Emerson – $8,000, Sidewalk in Evans Park
  • City of Malvern – $50,000, Wolverine Trail-Safe Route to School
  • Friends of the Malvern Public Library – $6,150, Art Restorations
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department – $8,000, Technology Grant
  • Hastings Fire and First Responders – $3,000, Old Fire Station Remodel
  • Malvern Park Board – $10,000, Malvern Swimming Pool Accessibility Improvements
  • Malvern Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000, Heavy Rescue Truck
  • Malvern Volunteer Rescue, Inc. – $40,000, Hydraulic Patient Loading System Acquisition
  • Mills County Conservation – $300, Trail Signage for Parks
  • Mills County Historical Museum – $2,120, Winterizing Building Number Two
  • Mills Masquers Community Theater – $4,700, Heating and Air Conditioning Replacement
  • Nishna Productions, Inc. – $10,456, Residential Shower Replacements
  • Oak Township Fire and Rescue – $4,500, Drainage and Entrance Installation
  • Silver City Ambulance – $3,000, Training Materials and Respirator
  • Silver City Historical Society – 2,120, Renovation of New Museum Buildings
  • Silver City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department – $3,000, Firefighting Hose Nozzles
  • West Central Community Action – $1,054, Updated Food Pantry Freezers