Larchwood, Iowa — Over 50 area projects are sharing over $150,000 in grants from an area non-profit gambling license-holder.
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation (LCRF) awarded $151,000 to 51 organizations in Northwest Iowa, Southwest Minnesota, and Southeast South Dakota at the 2025 Mini Grant award ceremony.
Riverboat officials tell us that about 280 people representing various nonprofit organizations, schools and local governments attended the ceremony, which was held at the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort event center, near Larchwood. Organizations from 22 different cities were awarded a grant. Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls were the cities with the most recipients, with seven each. George and Luverne had four recipients, while Crooks and Hills each had three recipients. Alvord, Doon, Inwood, Lester, Little Rock, Rock Valley, Sibley, and Sioux Center were the other cities with multiple recipients with two each.
For the 2025 mini grant cycle, 110 applications were considered from 32 different cities. The foundation has 4 Special Interest Categories. Of the 110 applications that were received, 27 were for Community Development & Beautification, 3 were for Economic Development, 34 were for Education & Arts and 46 were for Human & Social Needs.
The foundation is the nonprofit gaming license holder for Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort (GFCR), which is located near Larchwood. Iowa law requires that the foundation is funded through a portion of the casino’s gaming revenue, and that money should be used to fund charitable and civic needs in and outside of their communities. The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation was established in June of 2011. In 2025, foundation officials say the foundation will distribute over $3 million and, since its inception, it has distributed over $30 million to charitable and civic organizations. You can learn more about Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort at https://www.grandfallscasinoresort.com and about the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation at https://LyonCountyRiverboatFoundation.org.
Some of the grants nearest to Sheldon included St. Patrick’s School in Sheldon. They got a $3000 grant for Classroom Furniture. The City of Hospers got $3000 toward sand volleyball courts. The City of George got $3000 for a Furniture And Signage Revitalization project. The George Community Foundation got $3000 toward enhancements for the George Freedom Days 5K Run. The George-Little Rock CSD got $3000 for an Enclosed Trailer Purchase. Mustang Sports Boosters got $3000 toward a Track Roll Runway. The Hawkeye Point Foundation of Sibley got $3000 for Hawkeye Point Tourism Promotion. The Sibley Chamber of Commerce got $3000 for Christmas Decorations. Family Crisis Centers of Sioux Center got $3,000.00. Midwest Honor Flight (based in Sioux Center got $3000 for Medical Team Technology. Little Rock EMS got $1550 for an Airway Trainer Upgrade Project, and the Little Rock Town & Country Club got $3000 for a Portable Pitcher Mound.
You can find the full list here:
