Northeast Iowa –Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) Bus Grant
Program proves popular among area schools during its first year. Within one month of
the opening of the 2007-2008 grant funding cycle, set to close on May 1, 2008, all of the
$7,500 designated to this year’s program has been allocated.
The Bus Grant, which is part of the SSNHA Education Scholarship Fund, is helping
27 schools to cover the costs of field study trips to 16 different SSNHA sites within the
region. Through the program, 1,619 students will have access to these enriched
learning environments within the Heritage Area.
The SSNHA Bus Grant Program, which helps cover transportation costs of field
study trips to SSNHA sites, awards a maximum of $350 per school building. Grants are
awarded on a first-received, first-funded basis to accredited Pre K -12 public, private or
charter schools located in the Heritage Area. Silos & Smokestacks is currently working
to raise funds for the 2008-2009 Bus Grant Program.
“With the growing competition for special program funding in the education system,
we are proud to offer the opportunity for students to experience hands-on learning at the
many unique sites in the Heritage Area,” commented Executive Director, Don Short.
“The SSNHA Bus Grant has proven to be a popular grant program, as shown by the
immediate number of applications that were received. Future fundraising efforts will be
critical as the popularity of the program increases.”
Schools receiving funding include: Fredricksburg Elementary School, Fredricksburg;
Oelwein Middle School, Oelwein; Centennial Elementary School, Altoona; Fulton
Elementary School, Dubuque; Trinity Catholic School, Protivin; Meskwaki Settlement
School, Tama; Northeast Hamilton School, Blairsburg; JFK Elementary School,
Dubuque; Rolling Green Elementary School, Urbandale; St. Joseph Community School,
New Hampton; Riceville Community School, Riceville; Shell Rock Elementary School,
Shell Rock; Cedar Heights Elementary School, Cedar Falls; North Cedar Elementary
School, Cedar Falls; Hansen Elementary School, Cedar Falls; Alden Elementary
School, Alden; Lincoln Elementary School, Cedar Falls; Orchard Hill Elementary
School, Cedar Falls; Blessed Sacrament Elementary School, Waterloo; St. Edward
Elementary School, Waterloo; Sacred Heart Elementary School, Waterloo; West Cedar
Elementary School, Waverly; Nixon Elementary School, Hiawatha; Lynnville-Sully
Elementary School, Sully; Nashua-Plainfield School, Nashua; Taylor Elementary
School, Cedar Rapids; and Anamosa High School, Anamosa.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 37 federally designated
heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The
Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80
borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of
sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural
communities – past and present. To learn more about Silos & Smokestacks National
Heritage Area, please visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
Topics: Press Releases
