On Monday, March 27, the South Dakota Prairie Rose Community Fund presented their 2023 community fund awards, totaling $39,500. The fund also granted three Garretson High School students with $1,000 scholarships.
The grants are awarded to those 501(c)3 organizations that are looking to make improvements in the lives of nearby communities, such as health and wellness, education, arts and cultural activities, and more.
The South Dakota Prairie Rose Community Fund has been in existence since 2014 and has granted a total of $401,504 in community enhancement grants/scholarships in the Townships of Logan, Highland, Edison and Brandon. Funding is provided by Prairie Rose Wind LLC, owner of Prairie Rose Wind Farm and subsidiary of Enel Green Power North America.
This year, Garretson organizations that received grant funding were the Garretson Ambulance, the Garretson Fire Department, the Garretson Park Board, Garretson Childcare Corporation, Blue Dragon Foundation, and Garretson Commercial Club.
“It is truly a joy for the Board to provide these funds to our communities for education, community enhancement and safety,” said Board President Steven Munk. He noted the board had received $72,000 in requests, which speaks to a need for the fund and was grateful to Prairie Wind Development and Enel for providing it. The funds are promised to be available each year for the next eleven years.
Munk encouraged those receiving their awards on Monday to express how the fund has helped their organization in the past, as several of the recipients have been multi-year grantees.
The Prairie Rose grant fund has been a key supporter of Blue Dragon Academy, awarding funds to help with the new building and expansion, storm shelter, and playground. They were also a supporter of Garretson’s Park committee, awarding funds in 2021 that helped the playground shade structure to be built in Split Rock Park, and in 2022, to purchase more playground equipment for the Jaycee's Complex (installation was delayed to this summer). They've helped in the past with the ambulance's power loader, which allows them to place gurneys into the back of the ambulance more easily, and for the fire department, the fund has helped with grassland fire gear and a rescue dummy for practice sessions.
The Prairie Rose Board is comprised of Steven Munk, Steve Howe, Angela Bly, Wayne Liester, Tom Elverson, Tom Brown, John Richard Weir, Dale Zweep, and Mike Siemonsma.
2023 Community Grant Recipients are:
Dell Rapids Fire Department, $6000 granted towards the purchase of a Jaws of Life cutting unit, which helps remove victims who are trapped in vehicles.
Brandon Volunteer Fire Department, $2300 granted towards the purchase of two multi-gas detectors, allowing the unit to know what gases are on the premises of a call and in what concentration.
Logan Township, $3000 granted towards the purchase of a 20-foot steel shipping container for road safety signage storage.
Garretson Ambulance, $2500 granted towards the purchase of one radio package with an encrypted scrambling program to protect patient privacy.
Garretson Volunteer Fire Department, $4000 granted towards the purchase of two sets of protective bunker gear fire suits.
Garretson Childcare Corporation, $6700 granted towards the funding of a Procare Security System, which include fire and surveillance protection for the new expansion.
Blue Dragon Foundation, $2000 granted towards the replacement cost of trees along the first base line which have been impacted by storms.
Garretson Parks, $4000 granted towards the purchase of replacement trees in Split Rock Park, which have been heavily impacted by storms and removal in preparation for the emerald ash borer infestation.
Garretson Commercial Club, $5000 toward the purchase of a sound system on Main Street that will allow for music, PSA's, and other uses to improve resident and visitor experiences downtown.
The following individuals each will receive a $1000 scholarship that will be used for the 2024 spring semester: Logan Bly, Hunter Abraham, Peyton Abraham, all from the Garretson School District, and Krista Burkman from the Brandon School District.
For information on the Prairie Rose Community Fund go to www.prairierosesd.com.
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