Foster care youth gathered at the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 30, 2025, for the annual AMP Day on the Hill. The event opened...
Ember Awarded $3M Grant

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced YSS will receive $3 million in grant funding toward the development of Ember Recovery Campus.
Located on 50 acres of prairie and timber near Cambridge, Ember will offer residential addiction treatment, crisis stabilization, and emergency shelter for youth and young adults. The nature-based, trauma-informed center will complement YSS’s successful programs and offer spaces specifically designed with clients’ needs in mind.
YSS broke ground on the campus in August and plans to open in early 2024.
“Ember represents hope—a small, glowing fragment that, when nurtured and cared for, creates a fire. This campus will create a fire for life in the hearts of youth and young adults,” said Andrew Allen, President and CEO of YSS. “We are grateful for the funding, which will help us provide hope and opportunity for thousands of families across Iowa.”
The funds, which are made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, are part of a $40 million grant program for Iowa infrastructure projects. The $3 million investment to Ember is tied as the largest award of the program and one of 24 nonprofit projects selected across the state.
“We received overwhelming interest in this unique grant program, which highlights the passion of Iowa’s nonprofits and their positive impact on our state,” said Gov. Reynolds in a press release. “These grants will invest in innovative projects that will put Iowa’s nonprofits in a better position to serve those in need.”
Learn more about the Ember campus project.
Other News
The ballroom at the Gateway Hotel in Ames was filled with hope, opportunity, and lettuce as YSS hosted its 2025 Recognition Luncheon on Jan. 31....