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 2023 that will run from March 1 – December 31, 2023.

The organizations received grant awards of up to $3,000 to support public health-related initiatives and projects in their communities. The grant program also requires recipients to secure an equal cash or in-kind match from other community organizations or businesses.

Funding for the BLN Community Grant Program is provided by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Greater Regional Health – Creston
The Community Car Seats project will certify staff in becoming car seat technicians and educate caregivers on car seat safety and installation. Car seats will be distributed to low-income families in Union, Taylor, Ringgold, Adams, and Adair Counties at car seat clinics, community events, and in rural health clinics.

Manning Regional Healthcare Center – Manning
The Healthcare Career Camp project will work to address a local shortage of workers in the healthcare field by encouraging high school students to consider health-related careers. The camp will showcase careers in a hospital setting through a full day, hands-on immersive experience cycling through types of jobs in various areas such as ambulance service, emergency room, laboratory, surgery, therapy, clinic, recovery center, and more.

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging – Waterloo
The Friendly Visitor Program project is designed to connect volunteers with older Iowans living in rural Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Poweshiek, and Tama Counties who may be socially isolated or lonely and at risk of malnutrition. These low-income older adults will be offered social support and access to nutrition counseling and food boxes to reduce malnutrition risk.

One Eighty – Davenport
The SmartSummer project will offer a summer program for at-risk middle school students to disrupt the cycles of crisis, poverty, and addiction. Students will participate in strengths assessment, goal setting, career exploration, life skills training, physical activity, learning about healthy relationships, and nutrition education. These food-insecure students will receive a daily healthy meal and snack.

Tipton Community School District – Tipton
The Children and Families Surviving and Thriving Together project aims to support low-income Cedar County families’ basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene products, and school supplies, as well as assist families experiencing homelessness with blankets, emergency lodging, and fuel reimbursement for transportation to ensure consistent access to education. Fun and educational community events will be offered that promote social and emotional well-being.

Learn more about the BLN Community Grant Program.

Learn more about the Business Leadership Network.