Attendees at the 2024 Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist in the rural community grants program. Created by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Foundation to celebrate the nonprofit organizations that help keep rural America thriving, this one-time grant program is awarding a total of $47,500 for safety or basic needs projects.
The top three finalists will attend the annual meeting on Dec. 5, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn., where live voting will determine which of the following projects will receive a $15,000 grant, a $10,000 grant and a $5,000 grant:
Balaton (Minn.) Fire Department will use its grant funds to buy a new rescue trailer and grain bin rescue equipment.
Jamestown (N.D.) Parks and Recreation will use its grant funds to make Nickeus Park accessible and inclusive for all abilities.
Lane County (Kan.) Community Foundation will use its grant funds to help rebuild a grocery store that was destroyed by fire.
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Foundation is also awarding seven honorable-mention awards of $2,500 each to the following projects:
- Cutting Fences Foundation, Laurel, Mont., adaptive equipment for farmers with injuries and disabilities
- Feeding Our Community Partners, North Mankato, Minn., rural student hunger relief
- Richland-Wilkin Emergency Food Pantry, Wahpeton, N.D., mobile food pantry vehicles
- Lil Chompers Child Care Center, Greenbush, Minn., rural community child care
- Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster, Wis., EMT training for students
- Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Delmar, Iowa, therapy dog for a rural school
- Graceville Fire Department, Graceville, Minn., grain bin extraction gear
