General Use Grants Awarded
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nora Nolden, Communications Consultant
[email protected] or (651) 245-6804
Compeer Financial Awards $169K in General Use Grants
32 Grants Awarded to Organizations in Compeer Territory
Sun Prairie, Wis., (August 17, 2021) – The Fund for Rural America, Compeer Financial’s corporate giving program, has awarded 32 General Use Grants, totaling $169,097. General Use Grants fund initiatives and organizations whose work enriches agriculture and rural America, aligning with Compeer Financial’s mission.
In total, the grants this cycle will directly impact the lives of 104,296 people and will touch 850,000 lives.
Since the program was established in 2018, the Fund has awarded 267 General Use Grants, totaling over $1.4 million.
“The effects of COVID-19 and food insecurity are prevalent and continue to impact rural communities,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer. “Many groups continue to find ways to support rural communities and enrich agriculture in their communities. We saw many applicants continue to find new and innovative ways to assist those impacted by the pandemic and food insecurity.”
The following 32 organizations in Compeer Financial’s territory received support from the General Use Grant Program:
Illinois
Adams County Farm Bureau Foundation: purchasing consumables for hands-on activities for the Agriculture in the Classroom program
Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation: using literacy to connect students to agriculture in an urban environment
Cook County Farm Bureau: nutrient loss rural urban exchange
Golden Friends: insulating and siding the last exterior wall of the Golden Library building
Greater Chicago Food Depository: tilt skillet for meal production pilot program
Hamilton Elementary: purchasing food items, bags, toiletries and personal care items for Hamilton Weekend Food Bags
MyCAERT/Cutting Edge Curriculum: creation, evaluation, marketing and training of an online Agricultural Safety curriculum library
Scales Mound School: furniture, supplies, and materials for Scales Mound Community Day Care
Stateline Farm Rescue: training the Saint Anthony College of Nursing senior students on farm safety
VIT Elementary: after-school tutoring program support
Minnesota
Camphill Village MN: replacing farm equipment
Cooperative Development Fund of CDS: Technical Assistance for Chicago food cooperative start-ups
Little Lakers Child Care Center: equipment, licensing, and training for child care center to address critical community need for child care
LSS Meals McLeod County: a refrigerator, freezer, hot food carriers, food delivery bags, utility carts, and coolers for outreach and expansion in McLeod county
Loaves & Fishes: purchasing a refrigerated truck to rescue food in rural Minnesota
Luverne Area Community Foundation: growing season maintenance and improvements for Project Food Forest
Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association: Local Foods Sustainability Project data collection and Farmers' Market Academy
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center: compost, germination mix, seeds, irrigation supplies, tools, tool and equipment maintenance, and food distribution boxes supporting regional food access and security
Women’s Environmental Institute: purchasing a refrigerated van
Wright County Community Action, Inc.: walk-in refrigeration and freezer unit to support frozen meal and produce distribution
YMCA of the North - Camp St. Croix: purchasing a walk-in cooler to better meet Farm & Garden Program objectives
Wisconsin
Dodge County Farmer for Healthy Soil- Healthy Water: creating and editing informational videos of conservation and regenerative agricultural practices
Fondy Food Pantry: acquisition of a global industries pallet jack with scale
Indianhead Community Action Agency, Inc.: purchasing a refrigerated truck
Lancaster Food Pantry: a refrigerator for milk
Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service: educational events for the From Bootless to In Her Boots program
New Richmond High School: hutches, water totes and heaters, feeder, gravity box with cover, garden weed barrier, fence posts and fencing, classroom set of bee jackets and gloves and classroom honey harvesting equipment for SOAR Educational Center
Operation HELP: farmers market and food harvest vouchers
REAP Food Group: upgrading the FarmFreshAtlas.org web-based platform
ROOTED WI INC: improving greenhouse facilities, compost spreading equipment and irrigation hardware
Savanna Institute: experiential and technical education, and diversity and inclusion training for Agroforestry Apprenticeship Program
Thursday’s Table, LTD: a new oven and food containers
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agricultural advocacy and development, agriculture education, cooperative initiatives, rural development and community enrichment; and youth engagement. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $25.4 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.