Grant writer says $3.44 million in awards, $2.1 million library win among Elkhorn successes

Katie James, community grant writer for the Elkhorn Area School District and partner municipalities, told the board on Aug. 11 that her office won nine grant awards this year totaling $3,444,000 and that she is pursuing additional local fundraising for two large capital projects. James said she submitted 15 grant applications this year (largely to private foundations and local businesses), won nine and still has one outstanding; across three years she reported submitting 68 applications totaling about $9.7 million when local matches are included. "The big wins for this year: $2,100,000 for the Elkhorn Library, the Matheson Memorial Library," James said. James described the library project as a renovation: the building’s last major update was in 2004 and it requires HVAC and roof work, plus an expansion that will include nine private study rooms and two classrooms. She said the library renovation is a partnership with Open Arms Free Clinic and the Walworth County Literacy Council and will support evolving community needs. She also described a bandshell preservation and capital campaign. James said the band shell achieved state‑level significance on the National Register of Historic Places, which led to an invitation to apply to the Jeffers Family Foundation for a $300,000 capital challenge grant. James said the city has committed $300,000 and she will seek roughly $500,000 more in community contributions over the next three years if the challenge grant is awarded. On downtown economic development, James described a building‑improvement match grant. She said the city invested $115,000 in the program and property owners invested $324,000 in the last 12 months, for roughly $440,000 of downtown reinvestment when ongoing projects are completed. James also listed other recent awards: a charter school grant for Southern Lakes Academy, an opioid‑prevention award, and $25,000 in Fab Lab equipment for a middle school. She said her position is funded through Fund 80 and serves the school district, city and chamber of commerce as a community service role. Board members asked about program geography and eligibility for downtown grants; James said primary downtown properties receive up to 25% of improvement costs and a secondary eight‑block umbrella area receives a smaller match (about 20%), and that applicants must demonstrate community benefit to be eligible. James said she will return to the board for requests for local funding as projects move forward.