Committee chair Louis Ortega of Marshalltown was present to accept the award.

She said the $5,000 will be used to pay for the fireworks display which will cost $11,000.

“On July 4, 2020, the community will be receiving $14,000 worth of fireworks for $11,000 because we purchased a package deal from the company,” Ortega said.

The council awarded the committee $5,000 in 2019 and $3,000 in 2018 and 2017.

Ortega

Ortega said JBS and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1149 have donated funds for fireworks or for other event expenses.

The event was held at the Central Fairgrounds in recent years.

It will be the sixth consecutive year Ortega — owner-operator of Midnight Ballroom organizes the event.

Her husband and four children also volunteer.

She organized the first event in 2015.

“I think it is important to celebrate July 4th,” she said. “To me and my family, it is what America is all about. I can not imagine a community of our size not having fireworks. I attended previous July 4 celebrations when they were held at Marshalltown Community College and then, Iowa Veterans Home.”

Ortega is a Texas native who has lived in Muscatine and Tama.

However, she made it clear Marshalltown is home having lived here almost three decades.

It is in Marshalltown she decided to raise a family and start a business.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com