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~ADVERTISING~
Projects split pot of gambling funds
By TIM JAMISON, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO --- The Salvation Army campus could become a valuable resource if floods or tornadoes displace Black Hawk County residents again.
The social service agency received nearly $76,000 from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association to buy a back-up power generator and become designated as a special needs shelter during disasters.
It was one of 19 awards totaling more than $670,000 the BHCGA handed out during its fourth quarter grant cycle, utilizing revenue the agency receives as the license holder for the Isle Casino & Hotel at Waterloo.
"It's just a real blessing to have this," said Sue Hennings, the Salvation Army's development director. "We will be able to accommodate about 200 people who have no place to go, which would include people with special needs --- people who are on respirators, ventilators or have other needs."
A coalition of hospitals, schools and others had been working to establish the Salvation Army at Franklin Street and Logan Avenue as a special needs shelter but had been unable to come up with funds for the generator. The BHCGA even passed on the agency's first attempt for funds, but Hennings said the agency was grateful for the assistance now.
"We tried everywhere," Hennings said. "I think the tornadoes and the floods helped them realize this was really necessary."
The next potential Michael Phelps may also be getting a boost from the gaming revenue.
The Black Hawk Area Swim Team, or BLAST, has been awarded more than $30,000 to upgrade its equipment.
"A large amount of the money is going to go for a new scoreboard, new blocks and new timing equipment," said Nick Lakin, the swim team's head coach. "We're very excited about it and we can't thank the gaming association enough.
BLAST hosts a number of swimming meets during the year, including a large summer meet that attracts many participants. The new equipment will keep those meets happening.
"We try to do a pretty good job of keeping our dues low to cater to all the kids who want to participate," Lakin said. "That makes it hard to keep the equipment updated."
The BHCGA has come under some criticism by those who feel not enough of the gaming revenue is earmarked for property tax relief.
But the organizations president, Don Hoth, said the grants have only been awarded since October.
"Property tax relief takes many forms," Hoth said. "The various taxing bodies have received considerable dollars from BHCGA for projects that otherwise would have burdened the taxpayers."
For example, the largest award was $1 million for the county's Enhanced-911 Service Board to purchase new emergency radio equipment for all public safety operations countywide. That award is being disbursed at a rate of $125,000 per quarter.
The latest round of awards includes $31,000 for Cedar Falls Schools to pay for half of an upgrade to the high school's security system.
"That $31,000, dollar for dollar, would have been something we would have had to find another way to fund," said high school principal Rich Powers. "We're thrilled and very appreciative for the award.
"Our current system has some limitations but has proven extremely valuable for some high-stakes events that occurred," Power said, referring to after-hours vandalism.
The BHCGA receives 5.75 percent of the adjusted gross receipts from gaming operations at the casino, which is distributes as grants for property tax relief, capital projects and charitable donations in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Grundy and Tama counties. Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants through the organization's Web site at www.bhcga.org or by calling executive director Beth Knipp at (319) 433-1153.
The next funding application deadline is Oct. 1.
For the full fiscal year, the BHCGA disbursed more than $2.7 million in grants through the competitive process. Another $3 million advance and $1 million gift from the Isle, which were specifically earmarked for downtown Waterloo projects, were also exhausted.
Knipp said the BHCGA has repaid just more than half of the $3 million advance and expected to pay off the remainder by the end of the next fiscal year. The revenue being withheld to pay off the advance would then become additional cash for competitive grants.
In addition to the grants awarded by the BHCGA, the city of Waterloo receives 1.5 percent of the adjusted gross revenue and the county government gets a half percent of the revenue. Those dollars are applied directly to those entities' general funds.
Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.
The social service agency received nearly $76,000 from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association to buy a back-up power generator and become designated as a special needs shelter during disasters.
It was one of 19 awards totaling more than $670,000 the BHCGA handed out during its fourth quarter grant cycle, utilizing revenue the agency receives as the license holder for the Isle Casino & Hotel at Waterloo.
"It's just a real blessing to have this," said Sue Hennings, the Salvation Army's development director. "We will be able to accommodate about 200 people who have no place to go, which would include people with special needs --- people who are on respirators, ventilators or have other needs."
A coalition of hospitals, schools and others had been working to establish the Salvation Army at Franklin Street and Logan Avenue as a special needs shelter but had been unable to come up with funds for the generator. The BHCGA even passed on the agency's first attempt for funds, but Hennings said the agency was grateful for the assistance now.
"We tried everywhere," Hennings said. "I think the tornadoes and the floods helped them realize this was really necessary."
The next potential Michael Phelps may also be getting a boost from the gaming revenue.
The Black Hawk Area Swim Team, or BLAST, has been awarded more than $30,000 to upgrade its equipment.
"A large amount of the money is going to go for a new scoreboard, new blocks and new timing equipment," said Nick Lakin, the swim team's head coach. "We're very excited about it and we can't thank the gaming association enough.
BLAST hosts a number of swimming meets during the year, including a large summer meet that attracts many participants. The new equipment will keep those meets happening.
"We try to do a pretty good job of keeping our dues low to cater to all the kids who want to participate," Lakin said. "That makes it hard to keep the equipment updated."
The BHCGA has come under some criticism by those who feel not enough of the gaming revenue is earmarked for property tax relief.
But the organizations president, Don Hoth, said the grants have only been awarded since October.
"Property tax relief takes many forms," Hoth said. "The various taxing bodies have received considerable dollars from BHCGA for projects that otherwise would have burdened the taxpayers."
For example, the largest award was $1 million for the county's Enhanced-911 Service Board to purchase new emergency radio equipment for all public safety operations countywide. That award is being disbursed at a rate of $125,000 per quarter.
The latest round of awards includes $31,000 for Cedar Falls Schools to pay for half of an upgrade to the high school's security system.
"That $31,000, dollar for dollar, would have been something we would have had to find another way to fund," said high school principal Rich Powers. "We're thrilled and very appreciative for the award.
"Our current system has some limitations but has proven extremely valuable for some high-stakes events that occurred," Power said, referring to after-hours vandalism.
The BHCGA receives 5.75 percent of the adjusted gross receipts from gaming operations at the casino, which is distributes as grants for property tax relief, capital projects and charitable donations in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Grundy and Tama counties. Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants through the organization's Web site at www.bhcga.org or by calling executive director Beth Knipp at (319) 433-1153.
The next funding application deadline is Oct. 1.
For the full fiscal year, the BHCGA disbursed more than $2.7 million in grants through the competitive process. Another $3 million advance and $1 million gift from the Isle, which were specifically earmarked for downtown Waterloo projects, were also exhausted.
Knipp said the BHCGA has repaid just more than half of the $3 million advance and expected to pay off the remainder by the end of the next fiscal year. The revenue being withheld to pay off the advance would then become additional cash for competitive grants.
In addition to the grants awarded by the BHCGA, the city of Waterloo receives 1.5 percent of the adjusted gross revenue and the county government gets a half percent of the revenue. Those dollars are applied directly to those entities' general funds.
Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.
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