Lyon County Riverboat Foundation Awards $1.2 Million to 22 Area Organizations
Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort, Larchwood, IA – On November 7, 2024, the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation (LCRF) awarded $1.2 million in 2025 grant funds to 22 organizations in Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota, and Southwest Minnesota at the 2024 Competitive Grant award ceremony. Nearly 130 people representing various nonprofit organizations and local governments attended.
The LCRF seeks to be the catalyst to help qualified organizations meet needs within Lyon County and beyond with a primary emphasis in the areas of Community Development & Beautification, Education & Arts, Economic Development, and Human & Social Needs. Seventeen organizations received over $900,000 for Human & Social Needs projects with the largest amounts going towards a Fire & Rescue building in Inwood, IA, and an essential equipment upgrade for the Lyon County Sheriff's office. Education & Arts projects received over $200,000 with the largest amount awarded to the Lyon County Fair Association in Rock Rapids, IA, for Fairground repairs needed due to flooding.
Veterans’ needs were addressed during this grant cycle with over $130,000 being awarded for the following projects:
Midwest Honor Flight for Mission 24
American Legion Flessner Post 561 for Larchwood Cemetery Improvements
American Legion Thorson Post 310 for Richland Cemetery Unknown Soldier Marker
Black Hills Veteran March for Support & Equipment Trailer
Lyon County Department of Veteran Affairs for Veteran Grave Markers
Clay County Veteran Affairs for Veteran Burial Flag Cases
Other projects receiving significant funding included the George, IA, Fire Department for Bunker Gear, the Larchwood, IA, Community Group for City Park Improvements, the Larchwood Sioux Fire Board for PPE Replacement, and Siouxland Adaptive Sports for Sports Chairs.
LCRF is the nonprofit gaming license holder for Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort (GFCR), which is located by the city of Larchwood in Lyon County, IA. Iowa law requires that the LCRF is funded through a portion of the GFCR gaming revenue, and that money should be used to fund charitable and civic needs in and outside of their communities. The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation was established in June of 2011. In 2024, the LCRF will have distributed over $3 million and since inception has distributed over $30 million to those charitable and civic organizations.