Iowa West Foundation Awards $4.4 Million in Grant and Initiative Funding

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $4.4 million in grant and initiative funding to 19 nonprofits and government entities that benefit southwest Iowans. Iowa West Foundation President and CEO Pete Tulipana said the Foundation is dedicated to funding programs and projects that are truly transformational for the city, county and region.

“We are committed to listening to what the community believes are important investments,” he said. “One of our key strategies is to take that input and invest in the grants and initiatives that research shows will create the most impact.”

In the final cycle of 2018, more than $1.1 million went to education-related programs. The Council Bluffs Community School district received just under half a million dollars for the expansion the International Baccalaureate program into Kirn and Wilson Middle Schools as well as the expansion of BLink, the City of Council Bluffs free Wi-Fi service. In addition, Iowa Western Community College was awarded nearly $500,000 for the Pottawattamie Promise program, which funds tuition and more for qualifying, Pell-eligible students from CBCSD, Lewis Central, Riverside, AHSTW and Tri-Center schools.

“The Iowa West Foundation’s investments in innovative educational programs are making a difference for students and families,” said Vickie Murillo, Superintendent of CBCSD. “They are transforming our community.”

In the Foundation’s focus area of “Placemaking,” $1.4 million of a $9 million commitment was awarded to Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment. Chanticleer Inc., a subsidiary? Of PACE, received $35,000 for 2018-2019 programming.

“We’ve begun transforming the historic Harvester II in Council Bluffs into the nearly 95,000-square-foot Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center,” said Danna Kehm, PACE CEO. “As we prepare for the grand opening in 2020, we are grateful for the Foundation’s help in making this transformative project a reality, not only with grant funding, but also for their vision, guidance, and support throughout the process.
Several smaller grants were concentrated around inclusion and the prevention of isolation for the elderly. Radio Talking Book Service was awarded $3,200 to bring the printed word to persons with visual impairment in Pottawattamie County; the Intercultural Senior Center received $21,000 for transportation services for Council Bluffs residents; and Inclusive Communities was awarded $8,000 for youth programming.

“Programs that help individuals become more included in the general population are key building blocks to healthy families,” said Deb Debbaut, Director of Grants Programs. “These grants will allow local community organizations to help families be the best they can be.”

Finally, as part of its ongoing commitment to rural southwest Iowa communities, the Foundation also awarded a grant to the Crescent Fire Department in Pottawattamie County. The organization received $10,000 for bunker gear.

About the Iowa West Foundation

The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has distributed more than $430 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska since the inception of its grant program. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s. IWRA is the license sponsor for Ameristar and Harrah’s and the license holder for Horseshoe-Bluffs Run. The Foundation targets resources into programs and projects that focus on economic development, education, placemaking and healthy families.

2018 Cycle 3 Grants & Initiatives

Chanticleer Theater
2018-2019 Operating funds
$35,000

Children’s Square U.S.A.
Fund development
$25,000

City of Atlantic
Library renovation
$30,000

Community of Christ Caring Ministries
Beautification project
$39,299.40

Council Bluffs Community School District
BLink Phase V
$100,000
International Baccalaureate – Year 3 Implementation
$365,000

Crescent Volunteer Fire Department
Bunker gear
$10,000

FAMILY, Inc.
Raise Me to Read
$100,000

Fontanelle Forest
Environmental education programming for Iowa
$4,521

Greater Omaha Chamber Foundation
Council Bluffs Chamber – workforce development initiative
$75,000
Prosper Omaha 2.0
$500,000

Heartland Bike Share/Heartland BCycle
Electric bikes for Council Bluffs
$10,000

Heartland Family Service
Housing and Emergency Assistance Task Force (HEAT)
$170,000

Inclusive Communities
Youth programming support
$8,000

Intercultural Senior Center
Outreach to Council Bluffs residents
$21,000

Iowa West Foundation
Riverfront Revitalization
$595,000

Iowa Western Community College
Pottawattamie Promise
$483,928

Metro Area Planning Agency
Heartland 2050 for Council Bluffs
$14,625

Omaha Conservatory of Music
String Sprouts in Council Bluffs schools
$22,500

Omaha Sports Commission
2020 Olympic Swim Trials
$50,000

Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Arts and Culture District
$1,400,000

Radio Talking Book Service
Outreach in Pottawattamie County
$3,200

University of Nebraska Board of Regents
MOEC Mathematics at the High School Cohort
$50,000