The Rising Sun Regional Foundation (RSRF) awarded a total of $426,042 in 20 new grants at its June 28 meeting. These grants included:

• $2,104 to the Ripley County 911/Communications for the purchase of two computer systems for its communications center.

• $15,000 to the Town of Osgood toward expenses for the Osgood Sesquicentennial celebration.

• Up to $9,000 to St. Louis School for the purchase of Automatic External Defibrillators for St. Louis School (Batesville), St. Nicholas School (Sunman), Sunman Elementary School and Oldenburg Academy.

• $15,000 to Oldenburg Academy toward the start-up costs associated with its resale store.

• Up to $46,305 to the Versailles Volunteer Fire Department toward improvements to its training facility in Versailles.

• $1,889 to the Town of Versailles toward the replacement of two computers and monitors for the Versailles Town Court.

• $959 to the Southern Ripley County Emergency Life Squad toward the purchase of a laptop computer and projector.

• $50,000 to the New Marion Volunteer Fire Department as a matching grant toward the construction of a new fire station.

• $35,000 to the Town of Sunman toward a preliminary engineering report for the development of a new sewer district.

• $3,500 to the Rising Sun/Ohio County Emergency Services Building Board toward the purchase of a computer and projector.

• Up to $21,200 to the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association toward the installation of a new roof on its clubhouse.

• $15,000 to the Bear Branch Volunteer Fire Department toward the installation of a standby generator for its fire station to serve as a community shelter in emergency situations.

• Up to $25,000 to Laughery Valley Fish & Game Association, Inc. (Versailles) toward the development of its nature trail system and the installation of a geothermal HVAC system in its clubhouse.

• $20,000 to the Ohio County Community Foundation toward the purchase of an accounting software system designed specifically for community foundations.

• $1,500 to Margaret Mary Community Hospital (Batesville) toward start-up marketing funds for the Southeast Indiana Regional Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

• $2,485 to the Rising Sun/Ohio County Community School Corporation toward the purchase of materials for hands-on science instruction for seventh and eighth grade students.

• $100,000 to Purdue University as a two-year grant toward the establishment of a regional Technical Assistance Program office in Rising Sun to assist small businesses, primarily located in the RSRF grantmaking region, on business and technical issues.

• $26,100 to the Ohio County Highway Department toward the purchase of a mower and tractor.

• $6,000 to the Aurora Riverfront Regatta and Air Show toward its eighth annual “A Roar of Thunder Regatta.”
• Up to $30,000 to the Shiner Pride Band Boosters (Rising Sun) toward the purchase of a truck to transport band equipment to competitions in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

In announcing the awarding of these new grants, foundation President Marianne Wiggers stated, “The Regional Foundation continues to respond to the many and varied needs of the residents of its grantmaking region, with special emphasis on long-term economic development. The $100,000 two-year grant to Purdue University, for example, toward the establishment of one of its regional Technical Assistance Program offices in Rising Sun, will certainly promote the development and continued viability of our smaller businesses in southeastern Indiana at an opportune time with the recent announcement of the new Honda plant to be built in Greensburg.”