Jones Co. awarded two Wellmark grants

     The Wellmark Foundation has awarded 12 Iowa organizations Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grants. Organizations were able to request up to $100,000 in grant funding. To ensure community support for the grant project, communities were challenged to match this grant amount dollar-for-dollar. Each of the grant recipients submitted projects that can help individuals, families, and communities achieve better health through safe and healthy environments that encourage physical activity and access to and consumption of nutritious foods.

     “The Wellmark Foundation is proud to award a cumulative total of $1,020,000 to these grant recipients,” said Becky Wampler, The Wellmark Foundation executive director. “These organizations are focused on sustainable initiatives that will improve the well-being of citizens in the communities they serve for years to come.”

     Twelve organizations that were able to successfully raise matching funds were awarded grants. Two of those organizations are in Jones County:

     • Jones County, $100,000 for the Wapsipinicon Trail Construction. The Wapsipinicon Trail is a 10-foot wide paved surface trail that connects the City of Anamosa to the Wapsipinicon State Park. The new paved surface will total approximately 1 mile, coupled with the existing park connection, and sidewalks. The entire loop will measure just over 3 miles.

     • Jones County Conservation Board, $100,000 for the Central Park Lake Restoration Project for improved water quality and outdoor recreation. The Central Park Lake has been a hub of outdoor recreation in Eastern Iowa since it was built 52 years ago. Restoration is needed to improve the water quality of the lake. By doing so, the lake will once again be used for swimming, fishing, paddling, and outdoor enjoyment.

     This was the fifth year The Wellmark Foundation offered the MATCH grant program. Visit The Wellmark Foundation website at www.wellmark.com/foundation to learn more about the 2018 grant opportunities, which will be posted in late December.