Keokuk casino funds now go through city's SIRRC

KEOKUK – A new grant funding mechanism is in place for south Lee County and the money is coming from area gambling operations.
The Keokuk-Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission officially launched efforts Monday morning from the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam Museum with about 20 people in attendance. It joins as one of three sponsoring agencies of Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission, along with Grow Greater Burlington, and Fort Madison-SIRRC.
Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission (SIRRC) is the nonprofit sponsor of the license for Great River Casino Resort, formally Catfish Bend Casinos. Funds received from the casino are directly dispersed by SIRCC to area governments. According to Iowa Racing and Gaming laws, casinos distribute approximately 3% of Adjusted Gross Revenues to what are called non-profit Qualified Sponsoring Agencies. SIRCC is one of the state QSOs and receives the funding to distribute for civic, educational, public, charitable, patriotic, or religious uses within its communities.
Currently, a contribution is made to a Des Moines County Charitable Fund, and then the Board of Supervisors in Des Moines and Lee counties each receive 2 percent of remaining casino discretionary revenues. What is left of monthly casino charitable contribution is divided equally (32 percent each) among Grow Greater Burlington, which uses the money for building sites, shell buildings and industry recruitment; Fort Madison-SIRRC, which administers a grant program for Ft. Madison-area non-profits; and the newly formed Keokuk-SIRRC operating under the umbrella of Keokuk Area Tourism and Convention Bureau.
Kirk Brandenberger, the current vice president of SIRRC said the creation of the Keokuk-SIRRC agency is a milestone event for the city. With the announcement being made at the Dam Museum, he invoked the engineer of the Keokuk-Hamilton Hydroelectric dam.
“This is the culmination of planning, collaboration, and commitment,” Brandenberger said. “Your work echoes the spirit of Hugh Cooper’s 1905 vision to harness the power of the Mississippi River. He saw opportunity where others saw obstacles and he proved that leadership, determination, and a refusal to listen to the skeptics can transform a region.”
Joe Steil, the president of the new Keokuk-SIRRC, said the agency is just getting up and running, but is now accepting grants for at least $25,000 through the end of July.
The agency will receive about $35,000 per month or $420,000 per year from the casino and its sportsbook partner. Previously those funds had been put to use by the convention bureau and the City of Keokuk. Now the funds will be earmarked specifically for grants to non-profits with 501c3 status in the south part of the Lee County.

The local board includes Steil, and two other members of the regional SIRCC board, three members of the convention bureau and one at-large community member. The Vice President is Kerry Klepfer, Barb Smidt is secretary and Brandenberger is treasurer.
He said other board members include Judy McDonald, Pam Bierwerth, and Tom Odegaad.
Steil said grant applications will be accepted from organizations south of 225th Street running west to Croton and east to Hwy. 61 at the sheriff’s office south to the Missouri border.
Applications will be considered for a broad range of investments that create or expand existing infrastructure, to increase tourism projects that will attract visitors and new residents to the area, and for projects that contribute to long-term sustainability and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
Requested amounts are only limited by the amount of funding the new group receives.
He said multi-year payment grants are also considered. Steil said the group wants to award $150,000 in the first round of grant awards. Applications are available at the convention bureau and at the Keokuk public library and are not yet available digitally. All applications must be received or postmarked by July 31. The second window will be in 2027.
He said priority may be given to projects that leverage other funds, but funds will not be allocated for salaries or utilities or other current ongoing costs.
“We’re looking for new things,” he said.  “Successful applications will, in the judgment of the Keokuk-SIRRC board, yield the greatest benefits for the largest segment of the community.”