FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/27/2025
MRHD Announces Recipients of their Second Annual Community Event Grant Cycle
SIOUX CITY – Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) announced the recipients of their 2025 Community Event Grant today during an awards ceremony at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. In total, $50,000 was awarded to 13 local organizations to support a wide variety of community events throughout Woodbury County.
This is the second consecutive year MRHD has offered a grant cycle exclusively for community events, which provides local governments and tax-exempt organizations an opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in funding to develop, market, and implement new or existing events in Woodbury County. The program was planned to support events that are open to the public with free or low-cost admission.
“We are thrilled to continue our support of initiatives that not only enrich the cultural landscape of our community but also provide opportunities for connection, learning, and collaboration,” said Sarah Kleber, President of MRHD. “The impact of these events extends beyond just one day – they bring people together, spark new ideas, and help cultivate a sense of belonging and shared purpose. We look forward to seeing these events unfold and the positive impact they will have throughout Woodbury County”.
Awards include funding for rural cities and organizations throughout the county for events such as: the Let Freedom Ring celebration in Anthon, the Sundae Sunday celebration of National Ice Cream Day in Cushing, and the 2025 Street Dance in Lawton. Funding was provided for human service events for families including the Mary J. Treglia Community House’s Community Connections Fair, and the Crittenton Center’s Bridge to Bright Futures. Some of Siouxland’s long-time signature events such as Leeds Days and Saturday in the Park were also awarded. Additional awards were provided for a diverse range of interests including various cultural celebrations, outdoor concerts, and the arts. (Click here for the complete list of awards).
MRHD is the non-profit Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) that holds the license for casino gaming in Woodbury County and receives funding from an agreement with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City. Under Iowa law, a percentage of the casino’s gaming revenues is allocated to MRHD for community development. Since 1989, MRHD has invested more than $58 Million into Woodbury County and the Siouxland community through grants funded by casino gaming revenue.
For more information about MRHD, or the 2025 Community Event Grant program, contact MRHD Executive Director, David Gleiser at: (712) 899-6631, or: execdir@mrhdiowa.org.
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