NNTC & FRS Award Two $5,000 Grants To Customers

COMMUNITY OF BUTTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION receives a $5,000 donation from NNTC and FRS

Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company (NNTC) and The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) are proud to announce $5,000 grants awarded on October 16th! The Community of Butte Development Corporation received a grant for the Butte Assisted Living and Nursing Home to purchase a new commercial stove. Brain Builders Early Childhood and Family Development Center in Stuart also received an award for swing sets for their playground!

NNTC's first stop was at the Butte Assisted Living and Nursing Home, located at the corner of Highways 11 and 12 in Butte. Cindy Schroetlin with the Community of Butte Development Corporation wrote in the application, “The nursing home was abruptly closed a couple of months ago, sending a shock wave throughout the community, the residents, their families, and the employees.”

She explained that when the former owners left the buildings, they took many fixtures, including the cookstove. The grant money will be used to purchase a new commercial-grade cookstove for the nursing home.

Schroetlin and Assisted Living Administrator Anita Mathine, who had worked at the facilities for decades, accepted the award. “It was devastating to have it gone, and we're so thrilled to get it back,” Mathine shared while holding back tears.

The Assisted Living Center in Butte is set to reopen by the end of 2025 with 16 available apartments. Work is still being done on the nursing home side, and a projected open date for a portion of the 40 beds is in 2026.

NNTC representatives then made their way 40 miles southwest to Stuart, NE, to visit Brain Builders Childcare Center. There, Director Kylie Coyle, Wellness and Development Specialist Judy Dvorak, and toddlers Phoenix and Maverick accepted the award for new playground equipment.

“Outdoor play is essential to children's growth and development, promoting physical health, imagination, problem-solving, social skills, and emotional well-being,” Coyle wrote in the grant application.

The Brain Builders Childcare Center was created to meet a critical need for childcare in Stuart. The non-profit childcare center opened its doors as quickly as possible in May 2025, with plans for the playground to follow. This grant money will be used to purchase swings.

“Every year, we are inspired by the creativity and dedication of our member companies and their community partners,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “The work each of these organizations does helps improve the lives of those in their communities. FRS is honored to partner with NTCA members to make these projects a reality and is grateful for our generous donors for making it possible.”

“We're proud to present these checks in Butte and Stuart. We appreciate our partnership with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) so we're able to help with projects in our communities,” said NNTC GM Pat McElroy.

The FRS awarded $145,000 nationwide in collaboration with their local member telephone companies (like NNTC). For a complete list of awardees, visit FRS online at www.frs.org.

Past NNTC/FRS Grant Recipients:

• 2021 – Village of Malmo – $5,000 for specialized park swings

• 2022 – Saunders County Robotics – $5,000 for storage during county fair time

• 2022 – Clearwater Chamber of Commerce – $5,000 for a telehealth room at their library

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