Two local school projects received financial boosts in the form of Rising Sun Regional Foundation grants awarded at the March 26 quarterly meeting.

Batesville Community School Corp. leaders will use $10,000 toward the construction of a community fitness track around the playground area of the Batesville Primary School. A $9,000 grant will help Oldenburg Academy purchase a public address alert system.

In all, 20 new grants totalled $322,955.

Six other projects are in Ripley County:

* $27,380 to the Milan Park Board toward the renovation of a concessions building at its park;

* $14,850 to the Ripley County Historical Society for the creation of 26 historical signs to better educate both residents and visitors about the county’s rich history;

* $11,500 to the Town of Versailles toward the purchase of a “Think GIS” system to computerize outdated paper record systems;

* $5,000 to American Legion Post 235, Milan, toward the replacement of its community room roof;

* $5,000 to the South Ripley Community School Corp. toward its proposed One Book, One School reading comprehension project;

* $890 to the Milan Lions Club for the purchase of a sound system for community meetings.

The remaining dozen projects are in the Aurora, Rising Sun and Ohio County area:

* $50,000 to the Aurora Lions Club toward expenses associated with the 100th anniversary of the Aurora Farmers Fair;

* $40,000 to the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department toward the purchase of protective gear;

* $40,000 to the City of Rising Sun toward the purchase and installation of hardware and software to replace current emergency equipment;

* $20,000 to the Ohio County Highway Department toward the purchase of a new flat-bed trailer to haul equipment;

* $16,000 to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and its school in Aurora toward the restoration of the steeple of this historic church building;

* $15,000 to the Rising Sun Chamber of Commerce toward costs associated with its 2008 Navy Bean Festival;

* $15,000 to the American Legion Post 59 Auxiliary, Rising Sun, toward costs associated with the Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall exhibition in Rising Sun in July;

* $15,000 to the City of Rising Sun toward costs associated with the 2008 Indiana Cities and Towns (IACT) Leadership Conference to be held in Rising Sun in July;

* $14,705 to the Ohio County Convention, Tourism and Visitors Commission toward the initial development of a children-oriented Academy of the Arts in Rising Sun;

* $4,999 to the Rising Sun/Ohio County Community School Corp. for the purchase of glass fusion supplies and art equipment to be used in grade 6 and high school art classes;

* $4,631 to the Rising Sun/Ohio County Community School Corp. for the purchase of a treadmill for its physical education program;

* $4,000 to the Ohio County Convention, Tourism and Visitors Commission toward costs associated with a two-day art fair to be held in Rising Sun this fall.

In announcing the awarding of these new grants, foundation President Marianne Wiggers stated, “Even with a more limited grants program budget due to a steadily declining income stream, the Rising Sun Regional Foundation continues to strive to respond to the many and varied needs of governmental, educational and nonprofit entities in its grant-making region comprised of Ohio and Ripley counties and the City of Aurora.”

RSRF was created in 1994 by the City of Rising Sun in conjunction with the development of the Grand Victoria Casino and Resort by the Hyatt Corp. The foundation began its grantmaking program in early 1997 after the casino opened for business. Grand Victoria makes monthly contributions to the foundation based on a percentage of its adjusted gross revenue.