Grow Greene County Gives Out Over $2 Million in Grant Funding

The 11th annual grant award ceremony distributes funds to local communities and organizations.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:25pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a gleaming new ambulance siren and emergency lights arranged elegantly on a clean, white background, symbolizing the importance of emergency services and public safety.A new ambulance for the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue department will help ensure fast and safe emergency response for the community.Jefferson Today

The Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, the non-profit gaming license holder of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson, Iowa, awarded $2.25 million in grants during its 11th annual ceremony. The largest competitive grant of $150,000 went to the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue to replace a 25-year-old ambulance. In total, $496,000 was awarded through the competitive grant program.

Why it matters

The Grow Greene County grants provide crucial funding for local communities, emergency services, and other organizations in the region, helping them undertake important projects and upgrades that might not otherwise be possible. The grants reflect the casino's commitment to reinvesting its profits back into the surrounding area.

The details

During the ceremony held at the Greene Room Events Center at the Wild Rose Casino, the Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation distributed funds to contiguous counties, municipalities, school districts, and other recipients through various grant programs. The largest competitive grant of $150,000 went to the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue to replace an aging ambulance. Rescue Captain Mandy Krieger expressed gratitude for the funding, noting it will help ensure the department can quickly respond to emergencies in the community.

  • The 11th Annual Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation Grant Award Ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 12, 2026.
  • The grant funding will be used over the next two years to acquire a new ambulance for the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue.

The players

Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation

The non-profit gaming license holder of the Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson, Iowa, which has awarded over $19 million in grants to the local community over the past 11 years.

Grand Junction Fire and Rescue

The fire and emergency medical services department in Grand Junction, Iowa, which received a $150,000 grant to replace a 25-year-old ambulance.

Mandy Krieger

The rescue captain of the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue, who expressed gratitude for the grant funding to acquire a new ambulance.

Norm Fandel

The outgoing president of the Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, who reflected on his 11 years of service and the over $19 million in grants the organization has awarded during that time.

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What they’re saying

“So this greatly helps us getting a new one, since it takes about two years to get a new ambulance. So, this comes in handy. We hope to have it soon. When our community calls for help, this will make us, you know, guarantee that we'll be there. We've got tools to provide, we can make it safe (and) fast transport.”

— Mandy Krieger, Rescue Captain, Grand Junction Fire and Rescue

“It's been very rewarding. Just great people to work with, to be around, (and) got to know some wonderful people to be on the board with us. Great projects that have come forward to us and just watching the communities enlightening themselves to a 'can do' attitude, and knowing that the financial burden is no longer there. That there's a project that they can go ahead, move forward with, that there's funding coming from Grow Greene. It's just fill out the application and see what happens.”

— Norm Fandel, Outgoing President, Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation

What’s next

The Grand Junction Fire and Rescue department will begin the process of acquiring a new ambulance, which is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

The takeaway

The Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation's annual grant program provides crucial funding for local communities, emergency services, and other organizations in the region, enabling them to undertake important projects and upgrades that might not otherwise be possible. The grants reflect the casino's commitment to reinvesting its profits back into the surrounding area and fostering a 'can-do' attitude among local stakeholders.