 INTEREST AREAS
A high priority is given to community development projects that encourage neighborhood revitalization and create more livable neighborhoods, as well as improving downtowns and community main streets.
Proposals that improve the quality of life and enhance the image and/or appearance of communities will be seriously considered. Priority will be given to projects of quality urban design that improve public spaces along the Missouri Riverfront, in downtown Council Bluffs, at the Mid-America Center ara, and along primary and secondary traffic cooridors indentified in the Council Bluffs Corridor Master Plan. Another priority is improving the quality of life through a community-wide public art initiative called Iowa West Public Art.
An important community goal is to retain or create family wage jobs that will result in increased economic self sufficiency for area families and residents. The Foundation's primary economic development role is to serve as a catalyst by building teh capacity of the public and the nonprofit sectors to effectively plan and manage economic development projects.
A special focus is partnering with local government and the nonprofit sector to support ongoing economic development projects at the Mid-America Center in order to create a major tourist and visitor destination in the region.
Proposals to support infrastructure improvements for rural communities within Pottawattamie County are not considered directly by the Foundation, but are referred to the Pottawattamie County CITIES Fund (Community Improvements to Increase Economic Stability).
Education
The Foundation has an interest in new and innovative programs that promote life-long learning, academic performance and workforce preparation.
Early childhood educational programs and quality daycare programs that address underserved age groups and serve children from economically and educationally disadvantaged families in Pottawattamie County will be seriously considered.
Proposals for capital improvements to school property will not be considered. Nor does the Foundation accept K-12 grant applications from individual school districts without approval of the local Area Education Agency. Individual petitions for scholarships are not accepted outside of the existing Iowa West Foundation related scholarship programs.
Human and Social Needs
The Foundation places a high priority on new and innovative programs that strengthen families, address the needs of underserved youth, provide services to senior citizens, and help our citizens to reach their potential. Examples of such programs include proposals that address the following: homeless/transitional housing needs; the high incidence of teen pregnancy, the lack of available prenatal care; and chemical dependency issues, especially the increase in the region of methamphetamine use. Collaboration betwen various partners to meet humand and social needs has been rewarded (the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus) and is strongly recommended.
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