Wind Farm Funds Distributed

Meridian Way Wind Farm funds, provided by EDP Renewables North America, were awarded by the Cloud County board of commissioners during its regular meeting on Monday.
Cloud County was presented $300,000 in wind farm funds to be used to support innovative projects that enhance quality of life, prosperity and safety of the citizens of Cloud County by creating additional educational, recreational, social, health, community development and economic opportunities for them and for existing and new businesses in Cloud County.
The county commission received 28 applications for funds, totaling more than $726,000.
Projects receiving wind farm funds include:
Get in the Cloud Small Business Grant Program, $150,000 – Administered by CloudCorp, the Get in the Cloud Small Business Grant Program provides competitive grants and mentoring support for new and existing businesses. Entrepreneurs who successfully complete the educational component and who own an existing business located in Cloud County, or are developing a business concept they intend to locate in the county, can be eligible to apply for a one-time grant of 50 percent of the start-up costs or $50,000, whichever is less, to fund eligible expenses.
Funded since 2014, the program has awarded $1,284,089.99 to 53 projects with total project input costs of over $6.7 million.
9/11 Tribute – Heroes Weekend, $3,000 – The 9/11 Tribute – Heroes Weekend is scheduled for September 8-10 at the Cloud County Fairgrounds to honor military members, veterans and first responders and to recognize those lost on September 11, 2001. Events planned during the weekend include a 9/11 memorial service, free concerts by the DJ Bridwell Band and Sunset Sinners, a cornhole tournament and races.
Concordia Senior Center, $25,000 – Funding will be used for remodeling the kitchen that includes replacing the vinyl flooring in the kitchen, food prep area, dishwashing area, office floor and pantry floor; replacing old wooden cabinets with stainless steel shelves; and replacing a wooden food prep table with a stainless steel table.
Clyde Community Ambulance Service, $10,000 – Funds were awarded to purchase a power cut with power load system to be installed in the ambulance unit.
Knights of Columbus #2114, $6,000 – The funds will be used by the Knights of Columbus #2114 in Aurora to help fund the Aurora Opera House Preservation Project that includes a new floor structure, flooring, plumbing, cabinets, countertops and possibly new appliances.
City of Glasco, $20,000 – The funds will be used for the revitalization of the Idle a While RV park in Glasco that includes electrical upgrades, new concrete pads, water hydrants, lighting, gravel for roadways and the purchase and installation of a storm shelter.
City of Jamestown, $14,000 – Funds were awarded to update the Jamestown fueling station.
Concordia Lions Club, $2,500 – The Lions Club, which provides free community meals to Cloud County residents on the first and second Wednesday of each month, was awarded funds to purchase a new commercial refrigerator for the Concordia National Guard Armory.
Boy Scout Troop #38, $400 – Funds will be used for the flag beautification project. The goal is to replace 50 flags prior to July 1.
Park Villa Nursing Home, $5,000 – Park Villa Nursing Home in Clyde was awarded funds to help purchase and install a Navi-Call wireless nurse call system.
National Orphan Train Complex, $20,000 – Funds will be used for exterior paint for the historic Orphan Train Depot and the Morgan-Dowell Welcome Center.
Cloud County Historical Society Museum, $500 – The funds will be used to purchase one head microphone, one lapel mic, one handheld mic, two speakers, wireless transmitters and a speaker wire and shelving to record programs and interviews, which can then be accessible to the public on the website.
Brown Grand Opera House, Inc., $5,000 – Funds were awarded to renovate two restrooms on the second floor of the Brown Grand Theatre.
City of Jamestown, $10,000 – The funds will be used to help cover the cost of replacing the rooftop HVAC units on the Jamestown Library, the afterschool room, the community room, the senior center and the food pantry.
North Central Kansas CASA and Hope's Place Child Advocacy Center, $4,000 – Funds were awarded to purchase new office furniture to furnish an office for the new position of family advocate/forensic interviewer and to replace damaged and broken furniture.
Concordia Kids Wrestling Club, $2,500 – Funds were awarded to help cover the cost of a new 40-foot durable and contained mat that will replace the existing mat that is in disrepair.
City of Aurora, $10,000 – The funds will be used for upgrades to the fueling station in Aurora, that include an awning and additional lighting.
Sunset Home Senior Living Community, $10,000 – Sunset Home plans to open an affordable daycare center and the funds will be used to renovate a cottage. There will be spots at the center for 8-12 children of employees and other families in the community. The funds will go toward the installation of fencing for the outdoor play area and to make safety improvements to the front entrance.
The county commission also approved providing $22,500 to the Cloud County Recycling Center and  $22,500 to Cloud County Emergency Preparedness to aid in minimizing the impact of their operational costs to the county's general fund; $2,600 for security upgrades at the courthouse and $4,500 to fund the Rural Opportunity Zone.