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Casino nonprofit hands out $3 million
In Freeborn County, money goes to Boy Scouts and museum
Published Monday, April 20, 2009
NORTHWOOD, Iowa — The Worth County Development Authority last week gave out more than $3 million in educational and nonprofit grants during an awards banquet.
In Freeborn County, the Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 7 of Albert Lea received a grant for a new equipment trailer, and the Freeborn County Historical Museum received a grant for new furnaces and air-conditioning units.
These awards, along with other regional awards, amounted to almost $97,000, according to a list of grants sent out by WCDA Executive Director Kim Miller.
For Worth County nonprofit projects alone, the grants totaled about $940,000, the list stated.
These projects included library books for the Grafton Public Library, building improvements for the Northwood Veterans of Foreign Wars and a standby generator for the Manly Fire Department, to name a few. Larger projects included phase three of the community center in Kensett, water plant upgrades in Fertile, and the final upgrades for a Northwood movie theater renovation by Total United Northwood Effort.
Each year, the WCDA — the nonprofit connected with the Diamond Jo Casino that holds the casino’s gaming license — receives 5.76 percent of the casino’s annual gross revenue.
Off the top of that amount in donations, the WCDA gives 7 percent to Worth County, and the other 93 percent is divided in half between education and then regional or countywide grants.
This year about 47 percent of the funds are going toward education.
Educational grants for Worth County students equaled about $2 million this year.
In February, it was scheduled that Northwood-Kensett schools would receive about $450,000, North Central would receive about $237,000, Nora Springs would receive $115,000, Forest City would receive about $98,000, St. Ansgar would receive about $83,000 and Lake Mills would receive about $150,000.
School money is split up in the following way: 29 percent goes toward physical plant operations, maintenance, expansion and green energy; 24 percent goes toward staff development, equipment, technology, text books, instructional support, support staff and library books; 19 percent goes toward organizational requests, fees and fundraising; 14 percent goes toward the teacher budget and is to be split equally among teachers for classroom materials; and 14 percent goes toward free school supplies and preschool.
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Comments
Posted by hothd37 (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that it is great that the casino is giving to schools and communities. I also think it would be great if they would compansate their employees for the hard work that they do for them. this is one of the casinos that has one of the lowest wages. their employees work thier hardest to make it very profitable establishment so they can give to commnities and schools. I feel that they can and should give more to their workers so they continue to make it a nice place for people to go.
Posted by ginger4908 (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My great grandfather, J.E. Murtaugh would be absolutely delighted that the Museum is receiving funds from the casino for such substantial improvements. It was his passion to have the Museum built in the first place; he and my great grandmother had a dance hall named the Casino that was built out on Fountain Lake for many years; and from time to time he entertained having a lottery to fund the Museum. Kind of like, what goes around, comes around. Thank you Worth County Development Authority.
Posted by Culture_Warrior (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Try to think a bit outside the box before we slobber all over ourselves about the great good the casino is doing in our area. What of the untold misery that habitual gambling has caused? The entire paychecks that have been flushed down the toilet at the cost of food, medicine and rent? The embezzlement and other forms of theft that fuel the gambling habit? What about legitimate charities that have suffered for lack of funds so that grandpa and grandma can unload their excess $$ at Diamond Jo or Mystic Lake?
Posted by alhsgrad90 (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
True golddigger but I feel the state does a good job trying to help people and prevent the abuse of gambling. It would be great if some of the casino here in MN would be as generous as this one. Instead they are more interested in buying all the land in and around the casinos. I feel it is time for the state to take away the exclusive rights to the Indians for their casinos and let competition rule the day.
Posted by Opinionated (anonymous) on April 20, 2009 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that it is great that they are giving back to the community. For those people that spend all of their money their, how about taking personal responsibility. No one holds a gun to their head and makes them gamble; it is their choice. They have the free will to not go to these types of places.
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