By Quinn O’Hara
On the evening of Saturday, February 17th, Grow Clay County held their third Annual Clay County Awards Ceremony. The theme was 1920s Great Gatsby.
Natalie Muruato, Grow Clay County’s Director, said the yearly events recognize local leaders.
After a welcome speech from Monte Green, an invocation by Kyle Bauer, a performance by The Dance Company, and a provided dinner, the Clay County Improvement Foundation announced their 2023 grant winners.
Grant amounts and awardees include:
$1,500 for the Clay County 4-H Development Fund, to be used for college scholarships and 4-H Camp scholarships.
$1,500 for Lighthouse for Christ, to be used for a referral program for food, clothing, household items, and financial assistance.
$5,000 for Clay County Child Care Center Inc., to be used as completion funding for a playground shade at Head Start.
$1,500 for the Community Church Camp Committee, to be used for Church Camp registration fees.
$13,000 for Grow Clay County, to be used as completion funding for a downtown speaker system.
$5,000 to the Green Restaurant Foundation, to be used as completion funding for handicap restroom renovation.
$7,000 to the Clay Center Youth Basketball Association, to be used as completion funding for 4 motorized adjustable goals at CCCHS for youth basketball.
$1,800 to Clay County Animal Rescue and Education Center, Inc., to be used as completion funding for puppy playground equipment at their animal shelter.
$4,000 to the City of Clay Center Parks and Recreation Dept., to be used as seed money to resurface and stripe the Reed Park Basketball Court.
$8,000 for A Mural Movement, to be used as completion funding for their Central Valley Ag bin mural.
$5,000 to the Wakefield Museum, to be used as seed money for handicap restroom renovation.
$4,500 to the Hope House, to be used for one month of expenses for transitional and recovery housing for women.
In total, the CCIF was able to award $57,800 in grant money to these organizations.
Muruato then took the stage to announce the winners of their 2023 Best of Business awards. Awardees include:
Ginger’s Uptown for Best Store Front.
Central Office and Supply for Best Customer Service.
Clay County Animal Rescue and Education Center for Best Non-Profit.
Legacy Outdoors of Wakefield for Best Retail Business.
Double L Manufacturing for Best Trade Business.
Happy Hippie for Best Hospitality Business.
Clay County Family Physicians and Dr. Lohmeyer for Best Professional Business.
Sage Steppe was recognized as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Jamie Keeler was recognized as the Employee of the Year, Linda Underwood was recognized as the Community
Catalyst of the Year, Walleta Bergsten was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Justin Tadtman and Farm Bureau were recognized as the 2023 Business of the Year.
The night ended with a silent auction.
