The Safe Routes to School infrastructure project has made significant strides forward. With key grants secured, community fundraising well underway, and widespread support growing, this nearly $1 million initiative is moving steadily from vision to reality.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has officially awarded the project full funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant. The $210,000 grant will fully cover the cost of installing an overhead pedestrian stoplight at the critical intersection of Highway 63 and 15th Street, adjacent to the STC High School. The new stoplight, which will be activated by a pedestrian push-button, is a long-awaited safety upgrade for a heavily trafficked crossing used by community members.

While the HSIP grant pays for the light and its installation, the community will need to contribute $30,000 toward engineering costs, a small addition to the fundraising goal.

Fundraising efforts for the full sidewalk project officially launched on March 17, and in just under two months, the campaign has already surpassed $65,000 through a combination of grants, business sponsorships, and individual donations. This represents 30 percent of the total goal of $217,000, which must be raised by October 2025 to meet the matching requirements of the Safe Routes to School grant.

In addition to the previously secured $5,000 grant from Lincoln Savings Bank, the project recently received a $20,000 boost from the Black Hawk Gaming Association, propelling the campaign forward.

Middle school students celebrate as the “mooving” mascot jumps for joy at surpassing 30% of fundraising. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Additional pending grant applications totaling $135,000 are also under review, with decisions expected by the end of June.

Community creativity is fueling the fundraising momentum. A highlight of the upcoming Lincoln Highway Festival on Saturday, May 17, will be the “Battle of the Brians” dunk tank challenge, where the mayors of Tama and Toledo will take turns getting dunked to raise funds for the project. All proceeds from the dunk tank will go directly toward the Safe Routes to School initiative.

Meanwhile, the campaign’s theme, “Let’s Moove Safely Together” — has come to life with two wooden cow cutouts that track fundraising progress. Starting at opposite ends of the proposed sidewalk routes, the cows will gradually move closer to the center as donations come in, visually representing the community’s shared progress toward the $217,000 goal.

The Hometown Action Team is also calling on STC alumni to support the project — either individually or as graduating classes — and has been actively sharing updates and donation information via Facebook on the Tama/Toledo Hometown Action Team page.

With $69,890 already raised, over $100,000 in grant requests pending, and strong support from local donors, Tama-Toledo is inching closer to making this transformative-transportation project a reality.

The freshly made “Let’s Moove Safely fundraising campaign cow” is now sat out and visible along the project route. Give the cow a honk as you drive by! CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

For updates or to make a donation, visit ConnectTamaToledo.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at Tama/Toledo Hometown Action Team.