The nonprofit license holder for Dubuque’s casinos on Tuesday announced more than $1 million in grant funding to 57 area organizations.
DRA board members on Tuesday unanimously approved the core grant funds at their monthly meeting. The program targets grant requests up to $50,000 toward initiatives that support population growth, retention, tourism and more.
A total of 127 area organizations applied for core grant funding, 57 of which were ultimately selected to receive a portion of the $1.23 million in grant support.
“This is the power of gaming in our community,” reflected Alex Dixon, president and CEO of Q Casino + Resort and DRA. “There aren’t a lot of communities across the country that can say they have an organization like this, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
Organizations from across the tri-state area can apply for the funding, which is awarded annually. Of this year’s recipients, 53 were from Iowa, three were from Wisconsin and one was from Illinois.
Fifteen of the recipients received 100% of their requested amount while 24 received at least 50% of their respective requests.
Core grant funding comes from DRA’s annual distribution, which divides funds collected from the Q and Diamond Jo casinos evenly among the city of Dubuque, local charities and improvements to Chaplain Schmitt Island.
“It is very unique to have two entities that are literally miles apart in a small town like Dubuque where we compete for customers but collaborate for the community,” Dixon said of the partnership between the Q and Diamond Jo. “But that’s what we’re doing here.”
The grant announcement brought joyful tears to the eyes of Megan Ruiz, executive director of Dubuque’s Presentation Lantern Center. The organization on Tuesday received $40,000 toward capacity building and outreach efforts to serve Dubuque-area refugees and immigrants.
“When I heard how many organizations applied, I thought ‘Well, there’s a chance, so let’s see,’” Ruiz said. “And then the slide popped up that said we got the two-year award, and I just instantly got teary-eyed, and I had board members all around me patting me on the back and saying ‘congrats.’”
Presentation Lantern Center provides English language and citizenship lessons by matching volunteer tutors with immigrants for weekly lessons and other programming. Approximately 70 individuals currently receive tutoring, Ruiz said, with an additional 25 people on the waitlist.
The money from the DRA will in part support the recent addition of a third full-time staff member, Ruiz explained, as well as various outreach efforts, programming opportunities and direct support.
“We’re a welcome center and an English-teaching center,” Ruiz said. “When people are able to come to us and walk away feeling connected to the center or the community and like they’ve found a friend, that’s what makes them want to stick around.”
Many of this year’s grant recipients are based in Dubuque, although awards also went out to organizations such as Driver Opera House Restoration Inc. in Darlington, Wis., and the Boundless Trailer in East Dubuque, Ill.
Several recipients also are based in one place but have a focus on serving individuals across the tri-state area.
Honor Flight of Dubuque and the Tri-States, for example, received $20,000 as part of Tuesday’s grant announcement to put toward its 2025 flights to Washington, D.C.
Each year, the organization flies roughly 200 tri-state area veterans to Washington to tour the various veterans monuments. Veterans fly free of charge, with first priority given to older or terminally ill veterans.
Perry Mason, director of Honor Flight of Dubuque and the Tri-States, said the DRA grant was a “shot in the arm” toward the organization’s efforts to recognize and thank area veterans.
“A lot of times, veterans didn’t get that kind of recognition when they got home, especially now that we’re serving more Vietnam (War) veterans,” Mason said. “This flight gives them a chance to get the thanks that they deserve.”