Representatives from organizations receiving Tama County Community Foundation grants gather to celebrate at the Wieting Theatre in Toledo Monday, April 13. TCCF announced the distribution of $193,436.99 to 26 projects in Tama County as part of its 2026 grant cycle. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TOLEDO – The Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF) held its 2026 grant awards celebration at the Wieting Theatre Monday April 13, announcing the distribution of $193,436.99 to 26 projects undertaken by organizations serving Tama County.

2026 grant cycle

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee which consists of volunteers from across Tama County. Committee members include Lori Baier, Dixie Forcht, Melanie Kemper (Chair), Maurice McWhirter, Michelle Podhajsky, and Stacey Zeman. TCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process include the Bill and Margaret Ramsey Charitable Fund-Tama County, STC United Endowment Fund, Pauline Kober Traer Endowment Fund, and the Renew Clutier Fund.

Grants are awarded through TCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Tama County in order to be considered for funding. The 2027 grant cycle opens this coming Nov. 15 with an application deadline of Jan. 15, 2027. Grant guidelines and application can be found at www.tamaccf.org.

The full list of this year’s grant recipients is printed below following the Lance J. Horbach Award announcement.

Lance J. Horbach Award

As part of the celebration April 13, the City of Clutier was announced as the recipient of the 2026 Lance J. Horbach Award.

Presented annually, the Lance J. Horbach Award honors a grant-funded project that demonstrates innovative thinking and creates meaningful impact. This year’s award is especially unique, recognizing not just one project, but an entire community for the collective impact of three initiatives completed within a single grant cycle.

Through park revitalization efforts, public library updates, and capital improvements to the Clutier American Legion Hora-Machacek Post 453 home, the City of Clutier has made significant investments in enhancing quality of life, strengthening community spaces, and creating lasting benefits for residents.

Following the awards ceremony, the City of Clutier announced via social media that park vendor presentations would take place during the City Council’s next regular monthly meeting set for Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting “to help shape the future” of the park.

TCCF 2026 grant recipients

HEALTH & SAFETY

-City of Gladbrook – Fire Department – Pump Build for Tanker – $5,000.00

-Community Resource Connections – 5 Loaves Kitchen Upgrade – $10,500.00

-Elberon Fire and Rescue Association – Upgrade SCBA – $4,831.00

-Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Feeding Tama County – $7,500.00

-Pied Piper Preschool and Child Care – Center Improvements – Fire Marshall Requirements – $4,800.00

-Tama County 4-H – Farm Safety Presentation Supplies – $1,241.47

-Tama EMS Non-Profit Association – LifePak 35 Cardiac Heart Monitoring System – $15,000.00

-Tama Fire Department Nonprofit Association – SCBA – $15,000.00

-Traer United Presbyterian Church – CHAT – Helping Your Neighbor 2026 – $10,000.00

-Vining Volunteer Fire Department – Fire Station Backup Generator – $10,800.00

OPPORTUNITY & ACCESS

-Al Exito – Al Éxito Tama: Student Success Tama – $4,500.00

VIBRANT COMMUNITY

-American Legion Post 0453 (Clutier) – New furnace and A/C – $13,134.00

-Amvets Post 10 Lincoln – Lincoln Amvet Hall Bathrooms – $16,200.00

-City of Chelsea – Community Bathrooms Revitalization – $6,030.00

-City of Clutier – Clutier Park Revitalization – $19,134.00

-City of Clutier – Library Updates – $3,000.00

-City of Tama – Library – Children’s Room Renewal – $11,589.00

-Dysart Cemetery Association – Markers & Map – $1,000.00

-Tama County ISU Extension & Outreach Office – Expanding Gardening With Seniors – $1,892.00

-Tama County Livestock and Fair Association – Water Pit Replacement – $1,250.00

-Toledo Library Foundation – Spark a Love for Reading – $5,000.00

-Wieting Opera Housing Company – Projector Replacement – $7,500.00

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

-Better Tomorrows Early Childhood Iowa – Tama County Early Literacy – $5,000.00

-Crayon Corner Learning Center (Gladbrook) – Healthy Climate Project – $3,460.00

-Garwin Little League Inc. – Garwin Little League Dugouts – $4,857.00

-STC Music Boosters – STC Middle School Drumline Equipment – $5,218.52

About the Foundation

The Tama County Community Foundation is a local foundation making grants to organizations creating stronger, more vibrant communities in Tama County and helps people establish funds to support the causes they care about. TCCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impacts in 20 counties in Iowa. For more information, contact 319-287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. CFNEIA is confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.