Prairie Meadows and Polk County Board of Supervisors Charitable Giving Partnership Awards Grants – 2024 Community Impact Luncheon

Thursday, September 19, 2024 – Altoona, IA. Prairie Meadows and the Polk County Board of Supervisors  co-hosted the 2024 Community Impact Luncheon Monday, September 16, 2024 at Prairie Meadows in The Meadows Events Center. The luncheon recognized the public-private partnership that Prairie Meadows and Polk County have had since 1989 and celebrated the organizations who received 2024 grant funding from Polk County and Prairie Meadows.

Prairie Meadows and the Polk County Board of Supervisors developed a public-private partnership 35 years ago to ensure revenue from Prairie Meadows lessens the burden of government. Through gaming taxes and charitable contributions, Prairie Meadows has helped transform the lives of thousands in Central Iowa communities. Since 1996, Prairie Meadows’ community betterment contributions have provided more than $2.2 billion to the state of Iowa.

"Prairie Meadows and Polk County share a steadfast commitment to driving economic development, creating jobs, and boosting tourism in our community. Through our collaborative efforts, alongside numerous public-private partnerships, we are building a stronger and prosperous Polk County. To date, we have contributed over $2.2 billion in charitable giving and taxes, significantly enhancing opportunities, infrastructure, and services for our community," said Gary Palmer, President and CEO of Prairie Meadows.

Julie Stewart, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Prairie Meadows said, “Our goal is to be the catalyst that sparks change in our community to improve the lives of Iowans. We are proud to support meaningful projects and provide funding to help advance important initiatives and vital projects to make central Iowa a vibrant area of excellence.”

In partnership with Polk County, over $18 million was awarded to deserving organizations, with $15 million of those dollars provided through Prairie Meadows’ Grant Programs. These funds supported 25 Legacy Grants, 334 Community Betterment Grants, and 42 Youth Sports & Recreational Grants, to improve the lives of Iowans and create vibrant communities. To learn more about the grant recipients, visit our website.

About Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $2.2 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.

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