The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Three Everly organizations earlier this month received a helping hand in the form of several thousand dollars worth of grants.

The Clay County Community Foundation on March 13 hosted its annual grant awards night at the Clay County Regional Events Center. Twenty-three non-profit organizations were awarded a total of $128,674, with grants ranging in amounts from $535 to $10,000. These grants will help to fund projects across several categories, including health and human services, recreation, public safety and support of quality of life organizations.

The three Everly groups included: Everly Public Library ($10,000 for internal repairs and renovations); Everly Fire and Rescue ($7,000 for the purchase of new rescue tools); and the Hap Ketelsen Community Center ($4,000 to purchase a new beverage cooler).

An additional larger Impact Grant of $25,000 was presented to the Clay County Agricultural Extension District in support of their construction of a new facility to house offices and meeting/educational space. The Impact Grant is designed to provide major funding for a large scale project or program that will serve a significant number of people in Clay County and, in some cases, beyond.

This was the fifth Impact Grant that has been awarded, with previous recipients including: Northwest Iowa Public Safety Training Center, Grand Avenue Community Outreach, Save the Fair Campaign and the Oneota Environmental Learning Center.

The Clay County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 when the Iowa Legislature voted to distribute a percentage of the state's gaming revenue to counties where no licensed gaming facility was located. Those funds are to be distributed in the form of non-profit grants through a County Community Foundation.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Brian Kahl (Everly Fire & Rescue) accepts $7,000 from CCCF President Bob Goeken.

To date, CCCF has distributed over $1.7 million in grants that have impacted thousands of Clay County residents. Other 2023 recipients and their projects/awards include: Clay County Citizens Awareness Council, car repair assistance program, $3,000; Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundaiton, emergency department waiting room, $10,000; Clay County VFW, kitchen remodel, $8,304; Catholic Charities – Spencer, therapy/psychiatric services, $4,000; City of Spencer Parks Department, Stolley Trail repair, $5,000; UDMO, facility expansion project, $5,000; Spencer Hy-Noon Kiwanis, fair stand upgrades, $5,000; Peterson Senior Center, building renovation, $10,000; Clay County Heritage, technology enhancement, $6,583; Lutheran Services in Iowa, Mental Health Supplies, $3,000; Romanzo A. Coates Questers, Parker Museum entrance repair, $1,500; Dickens Fire Department, bunker gear replacement, $10,000; Spencer Municipal Library Trust, educational smart screen, $3,000; Fostoria Fire & Rescue, entry/rescue tools, $4,702; City of Peterson, library automation project, $3,000; Children's Cancer Connection, Clay County Camperships, $1,500; CAASA, holistic therapy supplies, $535; Peterson Brooke Memorial Field, softball batting cage, $2,500; Arts on Grand, BBQ/Arts Festival, $5,750; Shayla Bee Fund, Shayla Bee Center Development, $10,000.