Programs and events strengthen neighborhoods, develop leaders, and create opportunities to belong
The Iowa West Foundation awarded more than $4.6 million in grants and initiatives that contribute to making Council Bluffs and surrounding communities a desirable place to call home, as community leaders look to retain talent and attract more residents to Pottawattamie County.
“Council Bluffs and surrounding communities have a lot to offer people who want a small-town feel with access to bigger city-amenities,” said Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “This effort is not about changing the identity of Council Bluffs – it’s about building on what already makes the community special while creating new opportunities for the future, like supporting neighborhoods, offering more opportunities to connect, and telling our story more broadly.”
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Grants that put these plans into action include:
- $500,000 IWF initiative dedicated to growing Council Bluffs;
- $150,000 to the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce for an economic growth initiative;
- $62,500 to Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs for neighborhood revitalization; and
- $1,000 each to Pottawattamie County cities for events that create new opportunities to belong.
“This funding allows the Chamber to invest in our community’s most important asset: people,” said Chris LaFerla, President and CEO of the Council Bluffs Chamber. “By activating downtown with events that bring residents together and supporting talent development, we can help build a stronger sense of shared identity while also supporting local small businesses. A vibrant and connected community is exactly what helps us keep young families and professionals energized to build their futures right here in Council Bluffs.”
Christine Paulson, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager at Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs, amplified that perspective.
“This funding helps us connect more effectively with our community and identify residents’ wants and needs,” she said. “Their support and feedback have been invaluable in helping us achieve our goal of improving residents’ overall quality of life in Council Bluffs.”
Each Pottawattamie County city was also offered $1,000 to create belonging opportunities in their community. Many are occurring this summer, including Crescent’s Zip Code Day on 5-15-26.
“Our Zip Code Day celebration was a meaningful opportunity to bring neighbors together and strengthen community connections,” said organizer Jody Shea. “We are also deeply appreciative of the Foundation’s commitment to the Community Hall renovation project that will help preserve and enhance an important gathering space for residents and future generations and make a lasting impact on the quality of life in Crescent.”
Rounding out the cycle are two grants that focus on retaining talent by expanding opportunities for local residents to build meaningful careers. Iowa Western’s Skills for Success received $35,000. The program helps employers upskill and reskill their workforce, enabling employees to advance professionally while their employers meet the evolving needs of their industries. At the same time, Council Bluffs Schools Foundation’s STARS received $320,000. The long-standing scholarship program removes financial barriers for adult parents pursuing college coursework, creating pathways to higher-paying careers while strengthening long-term economic stability for their families. Together, these programs reinforce the community as a place where individuals and families have opportunities to thrive.
Grant applications begin with Letters of Inquiry, which are accepted year-round; however, to be considered for the next funding cycle, submissions must be received by Sept. 1. To help applicants prepare strong proposals, a grants workshop will be held on July 29.
2026 Cycle 2 grants and initiatives
American Midwest Ballet
Operating funding
$100,000
Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement
Legal services in southwest Iowa
$115,000
Child Saving Institute
Campus improvements at Children’s Square
$500,000
City of Crescent
Community Hall renovation
$33,000
City of Imogene
North Bar/South Bank renovation
$50,000
Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
CB Community & Economic Growth Initiative
$150,000
Council Bluffs Schools Foundation
STARS program
$320,000
CBCSD before and after school program for students with special needs
$15,000
Danish Mill Corporation
Fantail preservation
$5,000
Family Crisis Centers, Inc.
Iowa Victim Service Call Center
$8,500
Firefly
Early Head Start expansion
$210,000
Friends of the Griswold Library
Public library reorganization
$30,000
Food Bank of Iowa
Fighting childhood hunger in Adams, Audubon, Carroll and Taylor counties
$30,000
Food Bank for the Heartland
Southwest Iowa mobile pantry program
$37,200
Green Hills Area Education Agency
Preschool in Pottawattamie County
$1,350,000
Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs
Neighborhood revitalization
$62,500
Iowa Legal Aid
School-based attorney services for eligible CBCSD families
$225,000
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
“School of the Wild” expansion in western Iowa
$33,045
Iowa West Foundation Initiative
Growing CB
$500,000
Iowa Western Community College Foundation
Iowa Western Arts Center National Performance, Youth, and Comedy Series
$32,000
Skills for Success
$35,000
Lauritzen Gardens
School field trips and summer camps for southwest Iowa students
$25,000
Luminarium
School field trips and reduced cost visits/memberships for southwest Iowa families
$25,000
National Alliance on Mental Illness – Southwest Iowa
Operating funding
$25,000
Nebraska Diaper Bank
Diapers for southwest Iowa families
$10,000
Nebraska Philanthropic Trust
Regional First Responder Education & Training Center
$500,000
Omaha Symphony
Music education programs in southwest Iowa
$23,000
Rose Theater
Creative Heroes program for Council Bluffs students
$23,650
Field trips for southwest Iowa students
$9,808
Together, Inc.
Counseling for housing stability
$55,000
University of Nebraska Foundation – Samuel Bak Museum
Field trips for southwest Iowa students
$24,790
Various Community Housing Organization Serving Council Bluffs
Iowa Housing Summit scholarships
$15,800
Rural Fire Departments
For gear and equipment
Carson Volunteer Fire Dept.
$10,000
Macedonia Fireman’s Association
$10,000
Missouri Valley Volunteer Fire Dept.
$4,000
Treynor Fire & Rescue Association
$10,000
Underwood Volunteer Fire & Rescue
$9,835
