Julien's Journal May 2016 (Volume 41, Number 5) | Page 67

Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Pays Out $2 Million The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD) recently authorized $2,151,140 in agency and donor-advised endowment payouts for fiscal year 2016, up from $1,808,070 last year. Community members and nonprofits have established 558 endowment funds through CFGD and its six rural affiliate foundations in Allamakee, Delaware, Clayton, Jackson, and Jones Counties including the Dyersville community. Nonprofit leaders look to the Community Foundation to hold their organizations’ endowments because the reliable source of funding helps them respond to emerging needs as well as plan for the future and sustain the good work they do. NICC Increases Tuition and Fees in Atmosphere of State Aid Uncertainty The Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Board of Trustees approved an increase of $6 in tuition and $6 in fees per credit hour at their monthly meeting in March. Beginning with fall semester 2016, in-state tuition per credit hour will rise from its current rate of $154 to $160. Out-of-state students will experience an increase from the current rate of $159 to $165. NICC has not increased its $13 fees since 2004. Providing an affordable education is a top priority at NICC, along with an emphasis on financial literacy and helping students and parents to understand the financial aid process. Many NICC students are eligible for financial aid, which includes the Federal Pell Grant, State of Iowa grants, and NICC scholarships, in addition to Federal Student Loans. Donors who give to endowments through a community foundation also benefit from the Endow Iowa 25% State Tax Credit in addition to federal charitable income tax deductions. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2002, more than 8,500 community members have made donations or created funds at CFGD. As the largest annual grantmaker in the greater Dubuque region, the Foundation has made a total of $31.7 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, including $7.2 million last year alone. The Foundation is also a community leadership organization, bringing people and institutions together to create long-term solutions to community challenges through initiatives like Project HOPE (workforce and unemployment), Every Child/Every Promise (youth and families), and Inclusive Dubuque (equity and diversity). Galena, IL is Voted Nation’s Best Main Street Shopping Experience Galena was recently voted national champion in ShopOnMain’s Best Shopping on Main Street competition, winning both the “Quaint” division, overall U.S. winner. Galena’s Main Street will be featured in an upcoming episode of the nationally syndicated television show Small Town, Big Deal. Galena is also featured on ShopOnMain’s website www.shoponmain.com/l/ bestshoppingonmain. VisitGalena.org, the official destination marketing organization for Galena, spearheaded a campaign to activate local residents and their large social media following. Own your dream home with as little as 3% down. * A DuTrac Mortgage offers a variety of types and terms, giving the home financing process real curb appeal. • • • • Traditional Mortgage Loans First Time Home Buyer New Construction Loans Take Credit Mortgage Credit Certificate Program • • • • FHA Alternative Loan VA Loans USDA Rural Development Other Real Estate Lending Options Schedule a DuTrac Mortgage consultation today! [phone] | [email protected] | dutrac.org *Example Terms of Repayment based on loan amount of $150,000, 30-year fixed rate mortgage at the stated rate of 3.8052% APR equals 360 payments of $4.62 per $1,000 borrowed. 3% down options applies only to 30-year fixed mortgages. May 2016  ❖  Julien’s Journal  ❖ 63