Multiple Sioux County projects are receiving funding through the latest round of grants from the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation.
The foundation awarded $154,000 to 52 organizations across northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, and southeast South Dakota during its April 30th mini-grant ceremony at Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort.
Sioux County Recipients
Three Sioux County projects were among the grant recipients:
•Hospers Firefighters Association – $3,000 (furniture upgrades)
•Rock Valley Community School District – $3,000
•Sioux Center Police Department – $2,765
The Sioux Center Police Department plans to use its grant for translation technology aimed at improving communication during calls.
Sioux Center Police Chief Josh Koedam explains that the devices allow officers to communicate across language barriers in real time.
Koedam says the department regularly encounters multiple languages in the community, making the technology especially valuable.
Koedam says the department tested the devices after a recommendation from the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and found them useful in the field. Koedam adds that the grant covers the entire (quoted) cost of the new devices.
Rock Valley CSD Focus on Safety
The Rock Valley Community School District will use its funding to upgrade communication for school transportation.
Superintendent Matt Van Voorst says the district is adding two-way radios to buses and base stations.
Right now, drivers must stop to communicate, something the district hopes to eliminate.
Van Voorst says that the grant will cover approximately one-third of the cost.
About the Grants
The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation distributes funding generated through gaming revenue at Grand Falls Casino, as required by Iowa law.
This year’s mini grant cycle included 94 applications from 39 cities, with funding awarded across categories such as community development, education, and human services.
In 2026 alone, the foundation expects to distribute more than $3 million, bringing its lifetime giving to over $36 million since it was established in 2011.
