FERTILE – The city of Fertile has greatly benefited in recent years from funds allocated from the Diamond Jo Casino located in nearby Northwood.
Among the projects that City Clerk Cindy Peters pointed to were blacktop on city streets and a new fire department building.
Perhaps the biggest project mostly paid for with funds from the Worth County Development Association-Diamond Jo Casino was a new community center.
In April, the City of Fertile reported that is was “happy to announce that the loan for the community center is paid in full.” Peters indicated Thursday that all but “a few minor expenses” for that project – which cost about $300,000 and was done in three phases – was covered by grants from the Worth County Development Association, the agency that disperses funds given back to Worth county from the casino as mandated by Iowa law.
Currently, Fertile is benefiting from more funds from the casino.
The City of Fertile received a grant from Worth County Development Association-Diamond Jo Casino in the amount of $79,670 earlier this spring to help pay for interior and exterior painting of their water tower. The vent and couplers in the legs which will cost $3,550.00 will be paid for by the city.
“It would have taken many, many years for the city to save enough money to pay for the painting work and we thank the board members at WCDA very much for this award,” the city reported in April.
Peters said work on the water town is still underway and should be finished soon.
(Photos courtesy of City of Fertile)
Funkin A! It’s all about casino lights, rockin’ out with hot chicks and getting lit up man. See ya at the show-Steel Panther
The casino helps ensure your communities are well provided for. That is great. Just be careful you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Any good business person would not let that happen and I’m sure these counties/communities are not getting drawn into that trap. That could be devastating should the casino fold.
move to worth county and enjoy the benefits lie the rest of us!
*like the rest of us
Kim Pang?
Can you people just be thankful? The enemy does not reside in north central Iowa. This is great news for the town of Fertile. When a community this size can receive assistance with infrastructure, it frees up funds that can be used in other areas that will continue to solidify this town’s existence. Well deserved!
Remember the Councilwoman that was against this got the NO vote. Oh she moved out of town
Mason City would never have been as successful as Northwood. first they like interstate access. Second the casino gets about 90 percent of it’s revenue from Mn and they wouldn’t have traveled to the south part of Mason City. Third I-35 gets at least 6 times the traffic as the avenue. There is only one set of facts and sour grapes and second guessing don’t pass the fact checker.
now how does that stir in the sour grapes mash.
You may remember that the committee that was formed to study the issue all agreed that it should be in Cerro Gordo County….It seemed really fishy at the time that the churches could have had that much clout… It really boils down to the fact that our Mayor at the time was from Worth County and his behind the scenes work was the grand result..
We got screwed…. big time!!!1
I seem to remember…. at the time, both Worth and Franklin County were in the running for one of the casino licenses. And, as we now know, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission picked Worth over Franklin County for that license. I believe some of their comments were ~~ they were trying to get some of the Minnesota money too.
Mason City would have just wasted the money on something frivolous. These little towns use the money for infrastructure and buildings they never could have afforded otherwise that are keeping the towns alive. Some of them still don’t have city sewer that is badly needed.
Sour Grapes.
Not hardly sour grapes. I don’t live in Mason City.
Sour grapes by proxy?
Nope. I grew up in a tiny town and am glad they have these funds to keep going.
Grapes? 🙂
So glad that the voters in Cerro Gordo County voted NO on allowing a casino in our county.
Last thing we wanted here was economic/community development and the educational support for our young people.
Oh wait………….
Kudos to the good folks in Worth County for having the vision and fortitude to benefit their communities.
So true. Thank God all the right wing churchies showed up and squashed the casino idea in Mason CIty. Who needs all those milion$ to have to try to spend. Who needs scholarships for kids. We needs a vibrant downtown. Those jesus lovers sure set us straight. Because gambling is evil.
Ditto Charles….. Praise JeeBus! We is saved and santified. No games of chance in this here county.