The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County

03/26/2026

03/26/2026

02/05/2026

Thank you to The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County for your continued support through grant funding. This round of funding helped us purchase a new Battery Powered Extrication Ram.

01/27/2026

01/15/2026

11/19/2025

Thank you to Osage Municipal Utility More Cents Program and the Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County for funds to purchase an AED for the daycare. This machine is a great addition to our building! It is used to help someone in cardiac arrest receive a shock to get their heart back in rhythm. Our staff are all trained on this machine due to CPR requirements. We are so thankful to these entities and the people who round up their utility bills monthly for the More Cents program for the grant funds to purchase an AED. Thank You!

11/07/2025

The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County Awards more than $105,000 to Local Non-Profit Organizations

On October 29th, The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County awarded more than $105,000 to Local Non-Profit Organizations. The St. Ansgar Recreation Trail Committee hosted the event. The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County (FEMC) wrapped up their 2025 grant making cycle by awarding $105,658 in grant funds to 14 different non- profit organizations/projects in Mitchell County. Projects funded this year by the FEMC include:

Osage Community Daycare - AED
Little Cats Daycare - Room to Run
Osage Fire Fighters Association - Rural Hitch, Tank Fill Site Hoses, Fittings, Valves, Equipment
Riceville First Foundation - Handicap Accessibility to Riceville Athletic Complex
Riceville Ambulance Services Inc. - Polaris Ranger and Insert
St. Ansgar Fire Fighters Association - Battery Powered Extrication Ram
Wee Saints Daycare - Playground Equipment
Riceville Community Club - ADA & Wheelchair Swings
St. Ansgar Aquatic Board - Waterslide System Restoration
Stacyville Kids Care - Safe Sleep Initiative
Riceville Family Care & Therapy Center - 14 Passenger Transit Bus
Senior Saints of St. Ansgar - Furnace & AC Replacement
Stacyville Public Library - Admin Laptop Computer Replacement
Bridges Mentoring Program - Youth Mentoring Program Services

Over the last 20 years the FEMC Board of Directors has awarded OVER two million dollars in grant funding to 489 Mitchell County projects and/or non-profit organizations. Current FEMC Board of Director members include chairperson Gina Goddard, vice-chairperson Janet Sparrow, secretary/treasurer Katie Penfold, Cassandra Wynia, Phil Kolbet, Ken Pitzen, Jim Lohuis, Carter Patterson, and Deanna Eastman.

The FEMC Board of Directors expects to launch their next grant making cycle in August 2026. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit organizations and 170(b) units of government organizations.

The FEMC looks to fund projects that address significant community issues; present innovative, creative, and practical proposals which build on community strengths; develop the leadership potential of the community; involve the people served in the planning and implementation of the program, provide a plan for sustainability beyond the funding period, and capital projects that impact a significant number of Mitchell County residents.

The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County was formed in 2005 with the purpose to foster private giving, strengthen service providers and improve the conditions of Mitchell County. To these ends, the foundation will promote endowment building, grant making, organizational collaboration, and public leadership for the benefit of the Mitchell County area.

The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County is presently soliciting endowed gifts that will help further this foundation for Mitchell County. Gifts made to the FEMC permanent endowment by year end may be eligible for an Iowa Tax Credit. For further information please contact FEMC Chair Gina Goddard or MCEDC office at 641.732.4790.

11/06/2025

Bridges Mentoring Program is grateful for the funding granted by The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County. Thank you for all you do to support Mitchell County!

11/03/2025

We are over halfway to our goal of a new bus!! 🚌 Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far and big thanks to The Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County for the $10,000 grant towards our bus fundraising efforts! We are so grateful for the community’s support!

If you'd like to donate, please drop a check off or mail it to 915 Woodland Ave. Riceville, IA 50466. Riceville Family Care & Therapy Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. All donations are tax deductible!

10/30/2025

We are excited to announce we will be getting an AED(Automated External Defibrillator) for our building due to the generous donations from the Foundation for the Enhancement of Mitchell County and Osage Municipal Utilities More Cents program! This is lifesaving equipment we will have available if needed. We are so grateful for your support!

09/22/2025

Happy Monday!

The 2025 grant cycle has CLOSED. Thank you so much to everyone who has submitted an application this year!

The FEMC board is currently reviewing each of the applications and completing their scoring process. Once this is complete we will reach out to each of the applicants with their results.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the MCEDC:
641-732-4790
[email protected]

Send a message to learn more

09/17/2025

LAST DAY!

Today is the last day to get your grant applications in!

Remember, you can request a copy of the applications to be emailed to you, or find them at the MCEDC website:
https://www.mcedciowa.com/financial-resources

Applications are to be submitted to the MCEDC.

Ph: 641-732-4790
Email: [email protected]
Addr: 212 S 5th St., Osage

When it comes to business expansion or individual relocation, Mitchell County Economic Development is cutting edge in our proactivity and creativity for business growth.