Foundation offers stimulus funding assistance to county

     Representatives from the Jones County Community Foundation (JCCF) met with the Jones County Supervisors during their May 25 board meeting to discuss how the Foundation might be able to be of some assistance regarding the American Rescue Plan Act. The county is expected to receive about $4 million.

     Sherri Hunt, Doug Edel, and Amy Manternach, who’s with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, were all present.

     Manternach shared that $55 million has been granted across the region covered by the Dubuque Foundation. Thirty percent of that benefits rural communities such as Jones County.

     The Foundation, that of Dubuque and the JCCF, serves three main purposes:

     • Working with philanthropic people through the Endow Iowa tax credit.

     “This incentivizes philanthropic people to make gifts to funds that’ll last forever,” explained Manternach.

     • Building non-profits, giving them the capacity to operate at a higher level to help more people. The Foundation also provides trainings and workshops to help non-profits remain sustainable.

     • Community leadership.

     In addition, the JCCF has also funded the Grade Level Reading/Every Child Reads initiative, as well as Vision to Learn. Hunt said Vision to Learn has been offered at every school district in Jones County, and has been very successful.

     The Jones County Supervisors is the fifth county board Manternach has visited with regarding offering assistance when it comes to addressing concerns regarding the Rescue Plan Act.

     “It’s about focusing on pandemic recovery and economic development,” she said. “We want to support you however we can.”

     Manternach said she could offer Jones County updates on what other county boards of supervisors are doing across the region. The Foundation can also serve as a catalyst for hosting public informational meetings.

     “You can hear from the community what they care about,” she said in terms of funding ideas. “The JCCF has the knowledge about Jones County and can help support and assess those needs. It’s an opportunity to align funding with those needs.”

     Furthermore, Hunt said everyone, every entity has its own needs.

     “We want to make sure the money is spent in the most responsible way,” she said. “I encourage you to get public input. It’s very important.

     “You have a great opportunity to make an impact as Jones County leaders,” urged Hunt.

     Both Hunt and Manternach said their offer to assist the county does not come with a financial ask or commitment.

     “We have the same mission as you,” Hunt said, highlighting local needs such as children’s services, mental health, and broadband.

     As has been discussed by the supervisors and County Auditor Whitney Hein at a previous board meeting, Hunt also felt the county might benefit from hiring someone to assist in filing reports as Rescue Plan Act money is spent.

     “This is new,” she said. “It’s worth the support versus putting it on current county staff.”

     The board of supervisors will offer suggestions for possible Rescue Plan Act committee members at their next meeting.

     “We can always add others and more people down the line,” said Supervisor Joe Oswald of starting with a small committee and expanding later.

     Hein said some counties have already received their allocated funds.