BLN Community Grant Program 2020

The College of Public Health and its Business Leadership Network (BLN) recently announced that five Iowa community organizations will be recipients of grant funding through the BLN’s Community Grant Program. See below for details about the projects funded in 2020 that will run from March 1 – December 31, 2020.

The organizations received grant awards of up to $3,000 to support public health-related initiatives and projects in their communities. Funding for the BLN Community Grant Program is provided by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The grant program also requires recipients to secure an equal cash match from other community organizations or businesses.

BIO Girls Davis County, Bloomfield
The 2020 BIO Girls Davis County project will hold a 12-week program to improve self-esteem in 2nd to 6th grade girls. The program combines life skills curriculum, small group mentoring, and physical activity. Lessons focus on self-care, healthy relationships, community service, kindness, and leadership, giving the girls a “self-confidence toolbox” that can be accessed well beyond the program.

Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, Muscatine
The Fueling the Future project will assist children suffering from food insecurity by engaging their adult caregivers in a six-week intensive “earn while you learn” up-skill training certifications in welding, certified nursing assistant, or computer numerical control. This cross-collaborative initiative will provide stabilization of family issues, education for the custodial adults, long-term advancement of skilled workers in the community, and a stronger next-generation Iowa workforce.

Live Well Montgomery County, Red Oak
The Live Well Tigers Kids Garden project will fight against food insecurity and overall poor health outcomes in Montgomery County with an elementary school-based kids’ garden program. During the school year, grades 4-6 will tend the seven raised garden beds and the produce will be used by the school district. In the summer, a kids’ program will focus on the science and nutrition of gardening, and participants will take the garden produce home. Any leftovers will be donated to local food pantries and senior centers. (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this program was delayed until 2021).

Northeast Iowa Wellness and Recreation Center, Postville
The Hydrate with Water project will upgrade two existing water fountains to water bottle filling stations with fountains as part of a year-long campaign to drink more water and reduce consumption of sugary beverages. Refillable water bottles will be provided to members to encourage drinking more water while reducing the environmental impact from single-use plastic bottles.

UnityPoint Health – Trinity, Bettendorf
The Medicine in the Barbershop project will address a history of distrust within the African American community when it comes to health care by establishing a partnership with local barber shops and beauty salons. This project will bring health care to the community where people live and work. Barbers and beauticians will be trained on having conversations about health and to be knowledgeable about how to connect clients to health care services. Health screenings and question-and-answer sessions with African American physicians will be held at the barber shops and salons.

BLN Community Grants in the news:

Back to the BLN Community Grant homepage.