Quarter-million dollars granted to support a vision for the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities

The Quad Cities Community Foundation’s QC River Connections Grants are designed to support projects and organizations that address environmental issues facing Mississippi River communities in the Quad Cities area through inclusive and innovative projects.

That aspiration is now becoming a reality as the first QC River Connections Grants have been awarded to nine local organizations. Totaling $250,000, these grants will drive efforts that build and strengthen relationships among people, organizations, communities, and the river.

Update April 1, 2024

Due to the overwhelming response from local nonprofit organizations, the Walton Family Foundation granted an additional $118,000, allowing the CRAC to fund three additional projects. These include projects from the Azubuike African American Council for the Arts, Putnam Museum and Science Center, and St. Ambrose University. The additional funding raises the granting total to $368,000 between 12 organizations.

CRAC was formed in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation’s Mississippi River Initiative, which has invested $637,000 over two years to launch the program. The council is supporting local projects through grants and will soon announce a guiding, community-informed Mississippi River Equity Vision for local waterways and river-adjacent neighborhoods.

One of those neighborhoods is Floreciente, located between the river and 7th Avenue in Moline. The Palomares Social Justice Center has partnered with the Floreciente Association to focus on neighborhood beautification and the expansion of a community garden. “There is a lot of neighborhood pride here,” said Susana Aguilar, co-chair of Floreciente Association. “Last year, we had more than 100 volunteers at our clean-up day—we ran out of equipment. This grant is going to make our beautification efforts bigger, safer, and more accessible for our community.”

The project also includes the expansion of a community garden. “The garden has become a valued green space and a productive resource for the neighborhood,” said Samantha Wright - president of Palomares Social Justice Center. “We’re going to invest in equipment and infrastructure to make the project more sustainable. We want to distribute food to more neighbors, and we are going to add educational opportunities so that families can go and grow their own food as well.” Green spaces and urban farms like this are proven to reduce the stormwater runoff that can pollute waterways.

Full list of grant recipients:

  • East Moline Main Street: Learning Outside Together-River Neighborhood Unification Project—$5,500

  • NEST Cafe: Responsibly Nourishing our River Community—$10,000

  • Together Making a Better Community (TMBC): Plastics for Good—$12,000

  • Palomares Social Justice Center: Clean-Up Floreciente; Floreciente Community Garden; Beautification of Floreciente—$18,635

  • AKWAABA QC: River Connection to Immigrant Population—$32,462

  • Putnam Museum and Science Center: Building Cultural Bridges to Protect the Mississippi River—$34,000

  • St. Ambrose University/Project Renewal: Mississippi River Explorers—$34,000

  • Great Plains Action Society: Mississippi River Rights Coalition—$40,000

  • STEAM on Wheels: Growing Together: Community Garden Expansion for Sustainable Living—$40,538

  • Spring Forward Learning Center: Our River-Spring Forward Summer Enrichment Camps—$45,000

  • Tapestry Farms: Gardening as Healer—$45,865

  • Azubuike African American Council for the Arts: River of Resilience: African American Voices in Mississippi River Conservation—$50,000

“Thanks to the advisory council, our community and nonprofit partners, and the staff members guiding this program, CRAC is making a big impact already,” added Hafkemeyer. “And this is only the beginning. The projects they are supporting, and the vision they are creating, will improve our water and build our communities for many years to come.”

Will Van CampDEI