Diamond Jo's Success Trickles Down to Area Organizations

Michael Benning
KIMT - NewsChannel 3
Thursday, November 16, 2006

Kim Miller of the Worth County Development Authority calls this just the start of the benefits of having Diamond Jo in the area. The grant money recipients of the more than three hundred and thirty thousand dollars say the money couldn't have come at a better time.

The Kensett Fire Department has used the same truck for the last thirty years. And for fear of going into too much debt, even had to cut costs on some of it's equipment. However, finally after several years of applying and failing at receiving grant money at the federal and state level, the department has hit the jackpot.

"Overwhelmed, we thought we had a good case, but never dreamed it would be this much money," said Fire Chief Richard Olson.

The Worth County Development Authority awarded the Kensett Fire Department $74,000 to go towards a brand new fire engine. They aren't alone either. The Manly Senior Center that hasn't had repairs in thirty years will get a grant of about $65,000.

"It's just absolutely amazing that we have an amount to work with, and it's about made the people around here speechless. For more than one person it is a second home," said Manly Senior Center President Ellen Harris.

Finding a home for the grant money wasn't so easy. The Worth County Development Authority had to make some tough decisions. Kim Miller says they went through two million dollars of requests. And after getting a recommendation from each township on where to send the money, divided it based on population size and quality of application.

"It's been really neat to watch some of the reactions some of how the realities are coming to life. The VFW got money for flags and they just showed me their flags, and that is so neat because they are so proud of that," said Miller.

And with the casinos success all signs show this is only a glimpse of things to come.

"This is kind of a run through. This is a small amount of what it's going to be in the future," said Miller.

And for small communities like Kensett and Manly that's making the road ahead a lot more promising. This time through the grant money is going to organizations only within Worth County. Miller says however, next years awards which should be considerably larger, will go to organizations outside of the county as well.