One person representing each of the organizations that received grants Wednesday holds a check from the Riverboat Foundation. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Nearly $800,000 was distributed to 30 grants Wednesday night by the Washington County Riverboat Foundation. At the 2016 fall distribution ceremony at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort $796,689 was presented. The largest grant was $100,000 to the City of Kalona for exercise equipment for their new community center.

Foundation president Mike Driscoll called it “the year of the trail,” with the last five grants of the evening going to trail related projects. Those five final grants total $225,282 and impact the Kewash Trail, Lake Belva Deer Trail and Tri-Rivers Conservation Foundation bike trail that will connect Louisa and Muscatine counties.

Erin Smith with the Washington Athletic Boosters, which received $12,000 toward scoreboard improvements at the softball field, said, “We just want to give them a huge thank you.” Since 2006, the first grant distribution, the foundation has awarded 1,092 grants for $38,511,453.

Applicant – project – grant
Ainsworth Community Together – frames, electrical and plumbing – $4,589
Keota Volunteer Fire Department – breathing apparatus replacement – $19,850
Washington Athletic Boosters – softball scoreboard improvements – $12,000
Sigourney Community Schools – weight room equipment – $6,125
City of Brighton – cemetery refurbishment – $7,770
Washington County Genealogical Society – book preservation – $2,361
Richland Community Club – kitchen facilities in shelter – $27,000
Kalona Historical Society – streetscape project – $35,000
Church of St. Mary – roof – $7,850
Riverside Ball Assoc. – batting cage replacement – $6,957
HACAP – freezer and cooler replacement – $60,000
Mid-Prairie Schools – eyes on iPads – $40,236
Ainsworth Community Church – infrastructure update – $32,319
Columbus Community Medical Facilities Assoc. – ambulance expansion – $10,000
Wellman Heritage Society – museum roof – $7,350
Winfield Community Development Group – community pool – $50,000
Community Foundation of Washington County – endowed funds transfer – $8,700
City of Kalona – community center exercise equipment – $100,000
St. Joseph and Cabrini Church – masonry repair – $5,300
Washington Community Schools – Stewart playground – $50,000
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity – home ownership in Riverside – $10,000
Wellman Chamber – portable gas grill – $4,000
Eastern Iowa Honor Flight – Honor Flight – $10,000
Washington County Extension – Women in Ag Conference – $4,000
Highland Community Schools – Macbooks – $50,000
Washington Economic Development Group – regional recreation and trail plan – $30,000
Washington County Conservation – Kiwi Ave. enhancement project – $27,846
Tri-Rivers Conservation Foundation – bike trails – $35,000
City of Keota – Kewash trailhead – $50,000
Keokuk County – Lake Belva Deer trail – $82,436

Total – $796,689