(MSC News)--The STEP Foundation Board of Directors has announced recipients for the first-round of 2019 grants.

The grants are awarded for charitable purposes to enhance and improve the quality of life for the residents of Nemaha County. With over $65,000 being requested this round, just over $23,000 is being granted. The breakdown for funding is $4,000 coming from the general undesignated fund, $9,000 from the Glen J. Meyer Advisory Fund, and approximately $10,000 from the Nate and Bernardine Rettele Fund, which closes out the Rettele Fund.

Three organizations will be receiving a total of $4,000 from the Nemaha County STEP Foundation General Endowment Fund. The Bern Community Support Foundation will receive $2,500 to assist in the new roof system for the Bern Café. The Nemaha County 4-H Program will use their $1,000 grant award to provide programs and activities for youth. The $500 awarded to the Seneca Free Library will be used for the concrete pad to complete installation of the music garden.

An award of $6,000 from the Glen J. Meyer Advisory Fund will be used to purchase equipment, uniforms and supplies for the youth summer ball from the B&B Ball Association. Jennie Rusche, ball association director, said in the application that “the new equipment would benefit approximately 125-150 kids per season for the next 7-10 years.”

Also receiving funding from the Glen J. Meyer Advisory Fund is the Centralia Community Church. They will purchase a big screen smart television with the $1,000 award and utilize it in the fellowship hall to offer more opportunities to the community.

The Centralia PRIDE Association will receive $2,000 from the Glen J. Meyer Advisory Fund for park improvements such as a chain link fence, basketball area improvements and a flag pole. The Centralia PRIDE Association has been working on their park since 2015. By installing new play equipment and sidewalks, the park is now a popular place for birthday parties, family gatherings and community events.

The Spring Creek Golf Course will be receiving approximately $10,000 from the Nate and Bernardine Rettele Fund, which closes out the fund. The golf course plans to chip and seal the parking lot which will create a clean, professional parking lot, enabling them to create and paint parking stalls.

All of these projects will make Nemaha County a great place to live and work! Grants are awarded twice a year through the STEP Foundation, with the next deadline being July 15, 2019. For current applications and more information, visit www.nemahastep.org or contact Tory Jost at 785-410-0543. For the latest updates, like and follow STEP on Facebook.