CCCDA awards Fund B grants

By Danica Baker
Herald Staff Writer

September 18, 2008 11:29 am

— CLINTON — The Clinton County Community Development Association awarded 39 grants totaling $489,207 as part of the Fund B grant pool during its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday morning.
Fund B grants are awarded with the goal of accomplishing economic, civic or community development within Clinton County. Applicants may apply for no more than $75,000 and must show a 25 percent match. The applications are reviewed by screening and review committees and the full board of directors votes on the grant recommendations.
The largest grant, in the amount of $46,200, was awarded to the Mercy Auxilliary for an intensity-modulated radiation therapy device. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation and information from the Mayo Clinic, IMRT is a state-of-the-art cancer treatment method that uses digital diagnostic imaging, computers and special software to conform the radiation beam to the shape of the tumor, delivering higher radiation doses directly to cancer cells while sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue.
The second largest grant of $39,463 was awarded to the city of Clinton Parks and Recreation Department to install a protective rubber playground surface in Rotary Park. The Parks and Rec Department also received a grant in the amount of $12,490 toward improvements for the Clinton Pony League.
Several area school districts received grant funding to aid renovation projects. The Calamus-Wheatland Junior/Senior High School received a $3,598 grant for a library makeover and Central Community Schools received a grant in the amount of $15,000 for replacement of the DeWitt High School gymnasium floor. The Lyons Middle School Parent Teacher Association received a $2,757 grant to be used toward a new scoreboard and the St. Joseph School received $37,500 in grant funding for a roof restoration project.
The Camanche Childhood Development Board, Inc. received $3,221 for safety enhancements at Kids First! Academy. The Camanche Community School District received two grants, one in the amount of $4,642 for high school band equipment and a $8,229 grant to purchase a lighting system for the Camanche High School Theatre.
The Clinton High School Band Boosters received a grant of $36,210, the only project to be awarded at the full request amount, that will be used to purchase a sound system for the Vernon C. Cook Theater.
Six local fire departments received grant funding for the purchase of new equipment. The Welton Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $30,997 for the acquisition of rescue equipment, while the DeWitt Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $13,998 for firefighting equipment. A grant in the amount of $5,896 was awarded to the Grand Mound Volunteer Fire Department for a hose and nozzle replacement project and the Delmar Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department received a $3,327 to be used toward updating personal protective equipment. The Goose Lake Fire Department was awarded a $2,279 for a firefighting skid unit. The Camanche Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a grant in the amount of $7,293 for the purchase of equipment for a new fire truck.
“The Camanche Fire Department is grateful to the CCCDA for funding our project this year. We will be purchasing equipment to be used on our new fire truck,” Camanche Fire Chief Dave Schutte said. “The CCCDA does great things for the community and they have helped our organization tremendously over the years. We just can't thank them enough for all they do.”
The Charlotte Firefighters Association received three grant awards, including a $10,972 grant for gear and equipment. The association also received $10,076 for a campground project and $2,749 to be used toward a roof project for the Charlotte Area Activity Center.
The Gateway Area Foundation received three grants. A grant in the amount of $36,511 was awarded to the GAF Leadership Institute for the “What’s Up” on the bike path project. The GAF and Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce received a $4,323 grant to be used toward the “Be Positive... Think Positive” marketing campaign. The GAF and the Clinton Convention and Visitors Bureau was awarded a $25,485 grant toward the visit of the LST 325.
In addition, the board unanimously approved a motion to increase two grant amounts to a minimum of $500. The review committee originally had recommended a grant of $120 for the Camanche Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9664 flag pole project at Rose Hill Cemetery and a grant of $268 for the city of Lost Nation “Reviving Our Library” project. Both projects will receive grants of $500 each.
Entities not chosen to receive a 2008 Fund B grant will be sent notification letters and applicants receiving grants will be mailed a grant agreement to sign and return. Entities receiving grants pay the full project amount and then send the CCCDA an invoice for reimbursement. The association pays 75 percent of the invoice submitted up to the total grant amount.