Iowa West Foundation Awards More Than $6 Million in Grants & Initiatives

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $6.2 million in  grants and initiatives that will make transformational impacts in southwest Iowa. Included in the funds is a $1.5 million commitment to the Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund, established in March with the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation.

“For this cycle, we wanted to be positioned to support nonprofits in need due to COVID-19. Our priorities were to be available to help our most vulnerable populations to ensure that access to food and safe shelter was available to everyone,” said Pete Tulipana, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “We also sought to honor our ongoing commitments to key grants and initiatives. This ensures that those who are dependent upon our funding to maintain operations can continue to serve their clients.”

More than half of the total amount of funding for Cycle 2 went to the City of Council Bluffs, which received $3.4 million for the following projects:
• West Broadway Renovations – $2,030,876

• FIRST AVE (Furthering Interconnections, Revitalization, Streetscapes, Transportation and Aesthetics for a Vibrant Economy) – $900,000

• River’s Edge Parking Garage – $475,369

“The City of Council Bluffs is grateful to the Iowa West Foundation for their willingness to partner on so many projects aimed at improving the quality of life for our residents,” said Mayor Matt Walsh. “Not many cities are fortunate enough to have a foundation like Iowa West, and we do not take their contributions for granted. We appreciate everything Iowa West has done for Council Bluffs, and we’re sincerely thankful for their continued partnership.”

With the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the list of urgent grants also included $100,000 in operating funding for the local nonprofit, Centro Latino of Iowa. Based in Council Bluffs, the organization is centered around educating and empowering Hispanic and Latino individuals and families towards thriving, self-sufficient, and healthy lives.

“Latino families choose to move to and live in Council Bluffs because of the employment opportunities and affordable housing, which makes the quality of life and standard of living quite attractive,” said Ramon Calzada, Executive Director of Centro Latino of Iowa. “Iowa West Foundation’s commitment to Centro Latino shows how they are truly living out their mission to improve lives and strengthen communities for current and future generations, especially making these new Iowans feel at home.”

The third and final grants cycle of 2020 will be invitation only due to COVID-19 funding. For more information, visit our Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund page, in partnership with the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation.

2020 Cycle 2 Grants and Initiatives

Centro Latino of Iowa
Operating funding
$100,000

City of Council Bluffs
F.I.R.S.T. A.V.E.
$900,000

City of Council Bluffs
River’s Edge Parking Garage Initiative
$475,369

City of Council Bluffs
West Broadway Reconstruction, Phase IV Initiative
$2,030,876

Completely Kids
Phoenix House Family Services
$9,500

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation
STARS Scholarship Program Initiative
$113,977

FAMILY, Inc.
Raise Me to Read – IWF Early Literacy Initiative
$51,930

Greater Omaha Chamber Foundation
Kitchen Council – IWF Food Entrepreneurship Initiative
$75,000

Iowa West Foundation Initiative
Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund
$1,500,000

Iowa West Foundation Initiative
West End Housing
$500,000

Nebraska Enterprise Fund
Creating Western Iowa Fund for Entrepreneurs
$268,000

Omaha Development Foundation
Advance Southwest Iowa -Entrepreneurial development for southwest Iowa
$100,000

Omaha Women’s Fund
Access Granted Pilot in Pottawattamie County
$100,000

Pottawattamie County Housing Trust Fund
Affordable Housing 2021
$13,375

SHARE Omaha
Programmatic funding for Year 2
$50,000

Treynor Volunteer Fire Department
New Turnout Gear
$10,000