Some Community Visioning projects are getting started in Audubon, and one of the public’s favorite plans — a safe route from the middle school/high school building to the Audubon Rec Center — got a boost from a $49,500 grant from the Wellmark Foundation.
Sara Slater with Audubon County Economic Development and Tourism said Community Visioning, which had held public meetings to plan enhancements for Audubon and the Highway 71 corridor, had applied for two grants, and received word on one.
“We know for sure (that we got) one, and hopefully we will know by August on the another,” she said.
One of the enhancements that Community Visioning planned was a safe route from the Audubon Middle School/High School building to the Audubon Rec Center, a six foot wide sidewalk with an estimated cost of $130,000.
Community Visioning will get $49,500 from the Wellmark Foundation if they have the funds to match the grant one to one, and have until Sept. 4 to secure those additional funds.
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In addition, work also has been done along the T-Bone Trail.
“Pheasants Forever donated shrubs,” Slater said, and with the help of Audubon County Conservation, Audubon County Tourism and other volunteers, over 100 shrubs were planted along the trail.
Sixteen Iowa organizations have been notified that they will receive Wellmark Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grants, contingent upon securing required dollar for dollar matches. The grants are for projects being planned that help individuals, families and communities “achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activities,” Wellmark Foundation officials said.
“The Wellmark Foundation is delighted by the amount of community input and support that was clearly expressed in the applications,” said Becky Wampler Bland, The Wellmark Foundation executive director. “Each of these projects will provide great options for physical activity within their community that will enhance the quality of life and the overall well-being of their citizens.”