Press Releases

Council Bluffs’ Lewis Central and Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tenant-Walnut (AHST-W) to join (Council Bluffs, Iowa) An Iowa West Foundation education initiative that addresses barriers to college access and success in higher education will expand to two additional high schools in Pottawattamie County this year. Council Bluffs’ Lewis Central and AHST-W school boards recently voted to join the Pottawattamie Promise program, […]

Raise Me to Read will be a Community-Wide Effort (Council Bluffs, IA) A local early literacy initiative launched in Council Bluffs on Oct. 27th, in conjunction with a community-wide shared reading experience held in locations throughout the city. Raise Me to Read is a collaborative effort amongst schools, nonprofits, businesses, and families. Its goal is for […]

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved nearly $5 million in grant and initiative funding to 21 non-profit organizations and government entities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Education was a major theme for the final grant cycle of 2016, with $1.5 million awarded to the Council Bluffs Community School District […]

In preparing for this year’s annual report, it became clear that there were a number of major projects started in 2015 that are still in the works (at the Mid-America Center, the Riverfront, and West Broadway to name a few). Because the work on these transformational efforts is ongoing, our images primarily consist of renderings. […]

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved more than $5 million in grants and initiatives funding to 19 nonprofit organizations and government entities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Among the recipients was the City of Council Bluffs, which received a $100,000 grant for the city’s newly unveiled “UN” image campaign, […]

New Arts Organization Launches in Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs, IA) – The Board of Directors of a new arts organization is announcing the formation of their nonprofit, fittingly named Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment or PACE. The mission of the newly formed 501(c)(3) is to strengthen, develop and promote art, cultural, and historical institutions, organizations, […]

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Board of Directors of Iowa West recently elected four new board members to serve a 3-year term. In addition, four current board members were re-elected to serve another 3-year term. They are Amy Crawford, Matt Gronstal, Susan Miller, and Phil Reed. The newly elected members include: Jason James of Council Bluffs […]

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $6.4 million in grants and initiatives funding to 21 nonprofit organizations and government entities with projects and programs that directly impact southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. For the first time ever, the Foundation awarded multi-year funding to seven nonprofit organizations in Pottawattamie County. […]

Pottawattamie County-based Nonprofits eligible for “Challenge Funds” from IWF  Council Bluffs, IA – A charitable giving day that raised more than half a million dollars for Pottawattamie County nonprofits in 2015 will return again in 2016. Registration is now open for “Pottawattamie Gives!” a 24-hour online fundraising event to be held on May 25th in conjunction […]

Including Pavilion, Water Features, Play Elements, Plaza and Tilted Lawn The City of Council Bluffs, in partnership with the Iowa West Foundation, announced $5.5+ million plans for Phase II of River’s Edge Park. Major funding for the project is provided by the Iowa West Foundation and the City of Council Bluffs, with additional funding provided […]