MRHD was formed in 1989 when Woodbury County voters approved a referendum that sanctioned gaming. A second referendum passed by 75 percent in 2002. The third referendum passed by 77 percent in 2010.

MRHD’s Annual Grant program began in 1994, and since then, the organization has awarded over 2,000 Annual Grants averaging a minimum of $3 million annually. Grants have helped fund programs and services throughout Woodbury County in the areas of economic development, tourism, health and human services, civic, public, charitable, patriotic, historical, religious, community improvements, culture, leisure and education.

In addition, MRHD has also distributed over $54 million to Woodbury County non-profits and governmental bodies through annual grants, holiday gifts and special projects distributions. Major MRHD contributions have gone to:

The Sioux City Public Museum; American Red Cross; Council on Sexual and Domestic Abuse; Mary Treglia Community House; Area Agency on Aging; Siouxland Food Bank; Sanford Community Center; Habitat for Humanity; the AID Center; Sioux City Art Center; Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center; IBP Ice Center; Tyson Event Center; and the Loren Callendar Clock Tower at Sioux City’s City Hall.

In its biggest accomplishment to date, MRHD built the Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in 2002 and the adjoining Betty Strong Encounter Center in late 2007 at a cost of $7.6 million. MRHD sustains the entire riverfront cultural complex which is free to all visitors.

Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) is the non-profit organization that holds the license for gaming in Woodbury County. Its funding is generated from an agreement between MRHD and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sioux City which allows Hard Rock to run a gaming operation in Woodbury County using MRHD’s gaming license.

MRHD’s agenda will be posted on our website in advance of our meeting. If you are interested in attending electronically, please send your request to: execdir@mrhdiowa.org and you will be sent an invitation for registration.

The 990’s of all tax-exempt nonprofits, including MRHD, are filed annually and are publicly available through the IRS website, GuideStar, and/or Propublica Nonprofit Explorer.