Contact: Cindy Deppe, media relations, 641-269-4834

April 9, 2008

GRINNELL COLLEGE ANNOUNCES MINI-GRANT AWARDS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

GRINNELL, IA - Thanks to the 2008 Grinnell College Mini-Grant Program, 14 community, educational, and arts initiatives in the greater Grinnell community will receive financial support this year.

"The number and quality of grant applications shows that there is no shortage of good ideas for improving the quality of life in Grinnell," said Amy Kalkbrenner, interim director of community enhancement at the college. "The committee’s decisions were very hard, with more applications seeking considerably more funding than in previous years."

The 14 recipient programs receiving at least partial funding for their projects include: American Legion Post 53 for the restoration of Civil War cannon in Hazelwood Cemetery; the Community Education Council, a World War II oral history project; the Cultivating Connections program, a local foods initiative at Grinnell-Newburg High School; Davis School/Community Meals, ServSafe certification for Community Meal workers; the Galaxy Youth Center, Skill Streaming program at Grinnell Middle School; the Grinnell Area Arts Council, Missoula Children’s Theater residency; the Grinnell Historical Museum Society, solar window shades to help preserve collections; Imagine Grinnell, energy lending library materials and supplies in conjunction with Stewart Library; the Iowa Barn Foundation, barn restorations in Poweshiek County; the Iowa Transportation Museum, Spaulding auto restoration with matching funds received from the State Historical Society; the Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS), new kennels and covers; Poweshie k County Barn Quilt Project, quilt panels on area barns; and Stewart Library, picnic benches at the Arbor apartments. In addition, one application, from the Davis After School Program, is receiving a smaller donation from the college for supplies.

The Community Mini-Grant program provides modest catalyst funding for small- to mid-scale projects to enhance the vitality and quality of life in Grinnell. Applications are reviewed annually by a volunteer committee of Grinnell College faculty, staff, and students from the local area. This year, the committee included: Kate Baumgartner, Karla Erickson, Christopher Hunter, Cheryl Neubert, Ericca Reavis, Vicki Wade, and Kalkbrenner. For more information about the program, contact the Grinnell College Office of Community Enhancement at 641-269-3900 or visit the website: http://www.grinnell.edu/Offices/communityenhance/minigrant/

- 30 -