By Scout Nelson
Ten rural communities in the U.S. have been awarded grants by agricultural cooperative CHS to enhance safety and basic services. Nonprofit organizations were invited to apply for grants of up to $15,000 from the CHS Foundation. After reviewing the applications, the Foundation shortlisted three finalists and seven honorable mentions. The final decisions were made through a vote at the 2024 CHS annual meeting.
One of the most significant awards went to the Lane County Community Foundation, which received $15,000 to rebuild the grocery store in Dighton, Kansas, after it was destroyed by a fire.
“Just imagine the difficulties you, your family and your neighbors would face if your county suddenly didn’t have a grocery store,” said Casey Venters, executive director. “It’s a hardship that impacts the elderly and people on fixed incomes the most, and it quickly starts hurting the local economy.”
“People from across our county are donating money to get our new store opened and keep it operating. The beauty of this solution is that over time, profits from the store will go into the Lane County Community Foundation’s general fund to help revitalise our community,” said Venters. “We’re thrilled to receive the CHS Foundation grant, which is another example of the exceptional collaboration that’s enabling us to build a community-based grocery store that will have longevity.”
The second-place grant of $10,000 went to the Balaton Fire Department in Minnesota, which will use the funds to purchase a rescue trailer. This trailer will allow the department to keep its grain rescue and other essential gear ready for quick deployment during emergencies.
“Like many small towns with volunteer fire departments, we have to make do with less space and equipment. When we get a call for help, we need to grab gear from throughout the firehouse and load it into the fire truck before we can head to the scene,” said Jared Hively, training officer. “The new trailer means we’ll be able to respond faster. This will benefit our town and the surrounding agricultural communities because we know that in an emergency, seconds can turn into minutes, and minutes can turn into somebody’s life.”
Jamestown Parks and Recreation in North Dakota won the third-place grant of $5,000 to help build an inclusive park and playground. “We are creating a destination space near the heart of our downtown where people of all abilities can engage and learn from each other, which is an important part of building a strong community,” said Amy Walters, executive director. “Residents and visitors will enjoy the renovation. “What’s even more exciting is the impact will extend well beyond today. We will be forming inclusive behaviors in our children that will shape how they grow into adults and become tomorrow’s leaders.”
In addition to the top three winners, the CHS Foundation granted $2,500 to several honorable-mention finalists, supporting projects ranging from therapy dogs in schools to mobile food pantries, adaptive equipment for farmers, and EMT training programs.
These initiatives represent significant efforts to enhance the well-being of rural communities and support their long-term sustainability.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: North Dakota, Business