Ripple Effect provides direct financial assistance to cities, counties and community development partners for local community and economic development planning initiatives through matching grant funds from the independent telecommunication partners. Funds are available for planning initiatives, engineering studies, strategic planning, laborshed analyses, housing needs assessments, tourism studies and many other community planning initiatives.


Ripple Effect also provides matching loan and grant assistance to eligible telecommunication providers applying to the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program for business and community development projects in their service territories.

 

 
Ripples Felt Across the Ocean

In the fall of 1939, a Danville, Iowa, teacher, Miss Birdie Mathews introduced her International Exchange Project in an effort to connect her students with other students across the globe. The Wagner sisters, Betty and Juanita, connected with Anne Frank and her sister, Margot....

The Warden Plaza Hotel Project in Fort Dodge

On August 11, 2016, the Fort Dodge Community Foundation was awarded a $5,000 Ripple Effect grant from Aureon for the Warden Plaza Hotel project.

North Central Iowa Rail Corridor Serves Development in Forest City, Klemme, Garner and Goodell

On November 21, 2011, Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association (WCTA) of Lake Mills joined officials of the Forest City Economic Development Corporation, their...

Sweet Water Trail Project Connects Sites Along Tripoli Loop

The Sweet Water Bike Trail may start in a renovated bar-turned-welcome-center, but a $5,000 Ripple Effect planning grant to the northwest Iowa town of Tripoli really marked the beginning of this exciting community project.

Community Planning Grant Awarded to City of Wyoming

The Little Eagles Nest Learning Center sits in the shadow of the Midland Middle and High School building in Wyoming, Iowa, a literal and figurative first step towards a quality education in the northwest Iowa town.

Ripple Effect Helps Connect Danish Villages

Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company led the Danish Villages Great Place application for the cities of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa; and in 2011, the two...

Creating a Resource to Draw Out Entrepreneurial Energy

During the opening of StartUpCity Spencer, co-founder Leanne Jacobsen told the (Spencer) Daily Reporter "We want this to be a resource to draw out entrepreneurial energy." The former president of the Technology Association of Iowa, and her husband David, turned the...

Collaboration Creates Impressive Community Center

Ripple Effect helped get the ball rolling in 2008 by awarding a planning grant to the Stanton Industrial Foundation to study the feasibility of building of a multi-purpose community center in the small southwest Iowa town of Stanton (population 664).

Ripple Effect Grant Kicks Off Marketing of a Community Gem

The Sacred Heart School in Templeton, Iowa was built in 1963 and closed in 2003 when the Holy Trinity School system was merged into the Kuemper Catholic School System in Carroll.