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Iowa Great Lakes Chamber Announces Walleye Weekend Grant Program

April 08, 2022 Steve Schwaller

(Arnolds Park)– The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is changing how proceeds are distributed from Walleye Weekend. Chamber CEO Blain Andera says they are starting up a grant program…

“You know the last several years it has gone to the four protective associations in the area here. They all do a fantastic job with the monies that we’ve given them. One of the things that the chamber board is looking at doing is making sure that the grant goes towards things that affect the angling industry or fishing industry in the Iowa Great Lakes. And so we came up with a very simple grant process that 501C-3 nonprofits can apply for. It’s going to be a little bit fluid, Steve, to be honest with you because this is the first year we’re doing it. So we don’t know if we’re going to get, you know, 10 $2,000 requests or a request for $50,000 for a multi-year type of a thing. We’re excited to be able to, you know, kind of be able to direct those monies directly to projects, you know, whether it’s a dock or a fish cleaning station or boat ramp or things like that that help affect the fishing industry in the Iowa Great Lakes.”

Andera adds the amount that’s available for the grant will vary from year to year…

“It will depend on the expenses of course with Walleye Weekend and the number of registrations and that, you know, things of that nature. We do encourage people to apply. The deadline to apply is the Friday before Walleye Weekend and then we’ll spend the next month or two going through the different grant applications and taking a look at that.”

Grant applications are available by emailing blain@okobojichamber.com or by calling 332-2107.

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