Sprucing up — MCFFgrants helping transform downtown

St. Patrick art teacher Deonne Hinz paints the likeness of the McCook Mural apprentice artists into the design, a beneficiary of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s grants this past year..

Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — Over the past year, downtown McCook has taken on a new appearance in several ways: Half a city block is now graced with a beautiful, eye-catching mural and many of the corners along Norris Avenue feature flowering planters.

Other recent changes include the addition of Norris Alley, which transformed a gravel parking lot between the Keystone Business Center and the historic Fox Theater into a welcoming space to gather for concerts, lunch or conversation. And the Fox is in the process of updating its marquee, which will be seen for blocks in either direction along Norris Avenue.

All of these projects are part of a bigger transformation of downtown McCook and all benefited from grants from the McCook Community Foundation Fund over the past few years. And the fund’s advisory committee is looking for new grant ideas and projects, which will benefit McCook and Southwest Nebraska.

MCFF also provided funding for Beautify McCook, which placed flowering planters on Norris Avenue, and were watered by local volunteers including Gary Wiemers.

Courtesy photo

Fall grant applications are due by Sunday, Oct. 1. Applications will be reviewed in October with grants awarded in November 2023.

Other grants awarded this past spring include:

McCook Arts Council: MerryMakers, Buffalo Commons and Summer Arts Program

McCook Community Chest: renaming to Southwest Nebraska Big Give

MCFF Summer Hometown Intern

Reality Checks Program for junior high students

Red Willow County Health Department: Vaccine Freezer

Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer Safety Equipment

Sixth Floor Project: Youth Docents

MCFF distributes grants twice a year, each spring and fall, with more than $150,000 available annually to organizations and individuals who are working to make McCook an even better place to call home.

A complete list of previous grant winners is available on the MCFF website, mcookfoundation.org, along with an application form and more information about MCFF.

McCook Community Foundation Fund is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.