Grant recipients gathered for the Tama County Community Foundation’s 2023 grant awards celebration on April 5 at the Traer Memorial Building where $160,094.42 in grant funding was awarded to 34 projects of organizations serving Tama County. SUBMITTED PHOTO

TRAER – The Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF) held its 2023 grant awards celebration at the Traer Memorial Building on April 5, announcing the distribution of $160,094.42 to 34 projects of organizations serving Tama County through its 2023 grant cycle.

“The Tama County Community Foundation is proud to support these organizations as they work to create stronger communities for everyone across our county,” said Sara Forrester, chair of the TCCF committee.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

Dysart Historical Society, Dysart Sesquicentennial History Book Update, $2,000

Toledo Library Foundation, Maker Space for Creative Projects, $2,684

Traer Historical Museum, Bright Lights, $8,990

Wieting Opera Housing Company, Event Space Kitchen, $4,650

Community Betterment

Amvets Post 10 Lincoln, Lincoln AMVET Hall Dining Room, $6,300

City of Chelsea, Fire Department – Front Door, $5,575

City of Chelsea, Library – Community Kitchen/Operation Potluck, $4,529

City of Clutier, Library – Books and Publications, $4,000

City of Gladbrook, Fire Department – Positive Pressure Ventilation Fan, $2,500

City of Tama, Civic Center – Rehab Project, $3,430

City of Toledo, Parks & Recreation – Toledo Heights Park & Shelter, $10,000

City of Toledo, Police Department – Individual First Aide Kits for Officers, $1,795

City of Traer, Traer Memorial Building – Seating Upgrades, $6,000

Vining Volunteer Fire Department, SCBA Air Pack Update, $13,000

Education & Youth Development

Al Exito, Al Exito Tama: Student Success Tama, $4,150

City of Gladbrook, Library – Playaway Launchpads For Youth, $1,825

Crayon Corner Learning Center, Playground Improvement – Phase 2, $1,596

Iowa College Access Network, Raising Attainment Levels in Education & the Workforce, $2,500

North Tama County Community School District, Student Health and Hygiene – Laundry Facilities, $2,210

Pied Piper Preschool and Child Care, Lighting Update, $8,000

Tama County 4-H, Kids in the Kitchen, $1,660

Environment & Animal Welfare

City of Dysart, Tree Board – Nature Preserve Access Walkway, $2,000

N-Compass, Iowa Project AWARE 2023, $3,000

Tama County Humane Society, Spay/Neuter Funding, $4,473.42

Health

City of Tama, Administration – AED in Public Buildings, $5,820

Elberon Fire and Rescue Association, Power Loader Cot for Ambulance, $5,000

Iowa River Hospice, Day of Care, $6,500

Tama County ISU Extension & Outreach Office, Gardening With Seniors II, $2,907

Human Service

Central Iowa Residential Services, Tama Opportunity Center and Tama County Consumer Needs, $2,500

Families Helping Families of Iowa, Program Support for Tama County Youth in Foster Care, $2,500

Lutheran Services in Iowa, Healthy Families America Tama County, $3,000

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Tama County Congregate and Home Delivered Meals, $5,000

Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Feeding Communities, $15,000

Traer United Presbyterian Church, Christian Hands Across Traer (CHAT), $5,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Tama County. Committee members include: Gloria Fonseca, Sara Forrester (chair), Dixie Forcht, Darvin Graham, Melanie Kemper and Chris Schafer.

Grants are awarded through TCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Tama County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the TCCF can be found at www.tamaccf.org.