Twelve area nonprofit organizations received grant awards through the latest round of the Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund. This funding cycle completes 7 years of Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund grants. The Bright Ideas program was set up as a cornerstone program to support local 501(c)3 nonprofits that serve to enrich the quality of life for the residents of Ottumwa and Wapello County. According to Amy Nossaman, Grants Program Manager, “nearly $2.8 million dollars has been granted to 225 different projects in the Wapello County area.”
The Wapello County nonprofits that received grants from the Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund are:
- American Red Cross to provide disaster services and services to the Armed Forces in Wapello County
- Bridge View Center Inc. to assist with upgrades to their website
- Crisis Intervention Services to provide counselling services to survivors of violent crimes
- Eldon Public Library for their Repair and Restoration project
- Eldon Uptown/Downtown towards the construction of a courtyard in Eldon
- Iowa Legal Aid for their Family Stabilization Project
- Ottumwa Athletic Club Inc. to assist with the purchase of new lights for Legion Field
- Ottumwa Community School Foundation to assist with the purchase of swim suits for the Sharks Synchronized Swimming Club
- Ottumwa High School Music Boosters Inc. for new lights, microphone and cyclodrama curtain
- Southern Iowa Mental Health Center to furnish the Community Education Room & 2 group treatment rooms in their new facility
- Wapello County 4-H Foundation for their Building Tomorrow’s Leaders program
- Wapello County 4-H Exposition Inc. to assist with converting to LED light fixtures
The Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund has three competitive grant cycles each year and awards up to $450,000 a year. The next grant cycle opens February 1, 2018.
