FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/24/2024

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MRHD Awards $1.25 Million Dollars to 26 Siouxland Organizations

SIOUX CITY – Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) distributed $1.25 million in grant funds to twenty-six local Siouxland organizations today as part of their annual Impact Match Grant Awards Ceremony at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. A large crowd of community volunteers and leaders representing various nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and local governments were in attendance.

The MRHD Impact Match Grant is a competitive grant opportunity that provides funding awards ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 to support larger-scale proposals that create a significant impact in addressing needs of the community and the organization’s work. Grant recipients must match 25% of their award amount, and have one year to complete their project. MRHD awards projects that align with at least one of the following categories of grant focus:

1.       Economic Development, Community Improvement, Tourism

2.       Human Services, Health Services

3.       Civic, Public, Charitable, Patriotic, Religious

4.       Leisure, Cultural, Historical

5.       Education

Nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and local governments located in Woodbury County, or those in surrounding counties were eligible to apply.

“"We are thrilled to announce the awarding of $1.25 million to twenty-six outstanding local organizations,” said Sarah Kleber, MRHD Board President. “This funding reflects our commitment to empowering organizations and fostering solutions to pressing challenges in providing for the needs of the community and those experienced this summer during the catastrophic flooding throughout Siouxland. Each of these organizations plays a vital role in meeting Woodbury County’s needs and enhancing the quality of life in our region. Together, we are building a brighter future, and we look forward to seeing the transformative impact of these projects", said Kleber.

Considering the flooding throughout its geographic funding area, MRHD modified the requirements for flood-related projects applying for the Impact Match Grant. The required match and limit on outstanding projects were waived for flood-related projects. Payment will also be provided for those awards upfront, rather than through the traditional reimbursement process.

MRHD is the nonprofit 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. MRHD has invested more than $36 million into Woodbury County and the Siouxland community since its partnership with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Sioux City formed in 2014, and the organization has invested more than $54 million since its grant program began in 1994.

For more information regarding MRHD’s Impact Match Grant program, contact MRHD Executive Director, David Gleiser at: (712) 899-6631, or execdir@mrhdiowa.org. 

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