Last week, the Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation Board visited several projects in the county that received grant funds from them.

The non-profit gaming license holder of Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson first went to the Churdan Public Library to view their recently completed expansion project. The group then traveled to the City of Dana to hear their plans for improving the city park. Rippey was the next stop, where GGCGC saw the current project of transitioning the former school gym into a new city maintenance area and fire station. The last two projects were in Jefferson. Stops included the Greene County Community Center to learn about the newly installed gym floor and then to the newest recipient, the History Boy Theatre, and all the upgrades they made.

GGCGC Board Member Lori Mannel talks about why they do this on an annual basis.

“We’re just as passionate about growing Greene (County) as each individual is about growing their project or their community. But really because it’s fun and it’s exciting. And that’s why we’re all volunteers on this board in the first place is because we want to see the progress being made. And it’s just a pleasure.” 

The projects that GGCGC went to totaled $306,717 in grant funds. The total includes $295,900 in competitive grants and $10,817 to the City of Dana because they get a percentage of grant funds automatically being a municipality. GGCGC has given away about $4 million so far. They receive five-percent of the adjusted gross revenue from Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson to give to worthy projects in the county, as well as the two local school districts, municipalities and contiguous counties.

The next round of grant applications will be available later this fall.