The Linn County Board of Supervisors has awarded $248,711 in economic development funding to 16 organizations in Linn County. The economic development funding is an annual discretionary fund the Board of Supervisors uses to help spur growth of the local tax base, encourage entrepreneurship or otherwise enhance the quality of life throughout Linn County. During their review of which projects to fund, the Board of Supervisors works to ensure geographic diversity as well as diverse types of projects.
“This has been the most challenging year awarding nearly $250,000 when we had requests totaling more than $640,000,” said Lu Barron, chairwoman of the Linn County Board of Supervisors. “There is a lot of need in the community and so many worthy projects.”
The following organizations received funding for fiscal year 2015, which runs from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015:
Ascent (Helping Women-Owned Businesses) $20,000
Blue Zones & Healthways $10,000
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art $20,000
Central City Mainstreet $7,000
Center Point Library $15,000
Czech Village/New Bohemia Urban Main Street $12,500
IDED Grant Match-MSI Mold Builders $14,400
Iowa Startup Accelerator $23,000
Junior Achievement $10,000
Kirkwood Small Business Development Center $10,000
Marion Amphitheatre $18,750
Marion Mainstreet $12,500
New Bo City Market $30,000
The Linn County Fair $25,000
United Way 211 $10,000
Workplace Learning Connection $10,561
Total $248,711