The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has awarded Leadership Grants totaling $420,000 to support three community projects: the North Side Community Recreation Center, Center at Sixth, and the 50314 Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) On-Demand pilot. Leadership Grants come from the Better Together Fund and are meant to aid projects that “create significant impact on community needs and opportunities by providing nimble funding and centering grant awards around equity,” according to a news release. Here’s how the Leadership Grant money was allocated:

• The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Foundation will receive $250,000 to support construction of a new North Side Community Recreation Center adjacent to the current Grubb YMCA. The 40,000-square-foot facility will serve families and individuals in the heart of Des Moines’ north side, featuring several community spaces that support STEAM-oriented activities, an interior NBA-sized gym space, and a family-oriented indoor aquatic facility. The Grubb YMCA will remain in operation until the new NSCRC facility is fully functional to ensure there is no interruption of community recreation services.

• Center at Sixth will receive $150,000. The center is a mixed-use commercial space located at 1714 Sixth Ave., which is one of Des Moines’ most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. It will include 12,000 square feet of commercial space featuring established Black and brown businesses and a nonprofit Black and brown main street business incubator. This new community hub for the Sixth Avenue neighborhood will provide indoor and outdoor space for gatherings, public events and celebrations of local arts and culture.

• Des Moines Area Regional Transit will receive $20,000 to aid with piloting a new on-demand service within the 50314 zip code to evaluate the degree to which it improves overall mobility and outcomes for individuals in the area. The 50314 on-demand pilot will test a microtransit solution for vulnerable populations who experience barriers to transportation. DART’s goal is to improve individuals’ financial stability and wellness through access to more employment opportunities and essential services. Testing on-demand service in this zip code will help DART and other partners understand to what degree adding this flexible mobility solution may reduce transportation barriers.