(Shenandoah) — Officials with a Shenandoah organization are expected to decide which projects are expected to receive important funding through the Charles E. Lakin Foundation.
Members of the Vision Shenandoah Board of Directors meet Friday to begin the process of selecting the projects eligible for grant money through the Lakin Foundation’s Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative. Shenandoah received $16.35 million in seed money for ventures helping the community grow and improve. Each community project must be approved by the Lakin Foundation. Speaking on KMA’s “Morning Line” program Thursday morning, Vision Shenandoah Executive Director Dr. Margaret Brady says the foundation plans to award funding in the first quarter of 2027.
“The Charles E. Lakin Foundation was an amazing gift to southwest Iowa,” said Brady. “$168 million that will be split between 51 communities. Shenandoah was selected as one of those communities, and Vision Shenandoah was awarded to be the local representative. We are working on programs that look at their three main objectives, which are improving child care and daycare facilities, education and then community enrichment.”‘
Brady says the board will work with local nonprofits to determine projects to propose for Lakin grant money.
“We’ll go through our dream teams to help select projects,” said Brady. “Those will be submitted to the Vision board for their approval, and then once Lakin is ready, we’ll submit them to the Lakin team for their approval before we’re funded in ’27.”
Brady expects the projects slated for funding to be determined by November. Vision Shenandoah also awaits word from the Iowa Economic Development Authority on projects receiving Community Catalyst Grant Program funding. Back in January, the Shenandoah City Council selected Lucis Sheridan’s proposal to renovate the former George Jay’s Drug Company building at 612 West Sheridan Avenue as the city’s applicant for the program.
“The Jay Drug Building is a historical building in downtown Shenandoah,” said Brady. “It had closed several years ago, and we have a young entrepreneurial couple that is coming back, and they’re going to restore that soda fountain, and put a business in there. They’re going to have living quarters up above. We think this is one of the perfect Community Catalyst grant applications, because it meets all the criteria. It’s an iconic building, it’s downtown. They’re doing a historic restoration.”
Brady says the IEDA is expected to announce Community Catalyst recipients later this month.
Provided by KMA: https://www.kmaland.com/news/vision-shenandoah-faces-funding-decisions/article_1bd91523-0318-46e7-9bbb-dbb1c4f24a78.html
