Iowa West’s Board of Directors recently elected a new board member to serve a 3-year term. Steve Baumert, CEO of Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, brings decades of experience to the role, having served on a number of nonprofit boards throughout southwest Iowa including the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest […]
Similar version of popular art piece by Tom Friedman will fill empty space in 2021 (Council Bluffs, IA) The popular “Looking Up” sculpture along the Council Bluffs Riverfront, which serves as a unique photo backdrop for residents and visitors alike, will be removed and transported to a private location this week. However, the space won’t […]
On November 8, I celebrated 60 days on the job as President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. It has been a busy two months! In addition to getting to know the staff and board, I’ve met with partner organizations, grant recipients, community leaders, elected officials, and business owners. In spite of the immediate […]
Thousands of students and residents access the Internet for free daily; more expansion coming soon (COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA) – In October of 2015, the City of Council Bluffs and Council Bluffs Schools, with support from key partners such as Iowa West Foundation and Google, launched Phase 1 of a free public Wi-Fi initiative at the […]
“Welcome home.” I have been hearing those words a lot lately, and every time I hear them it warms my heart. Coming home to Council Bluffs was not a matter of convenience or luck. It was a longstanding goal. When I graduated from A.L. and headed off to the University of Iowa, I didn’t expect […]
Iowa West Foundation initiative, in partnership with local businesses, leads to more place-based art (Council Bluffs, IA) A mural titled “Riverboat on the Missouri” is coming to life by the day in Council Bluffs, thanks to an Iowa West Foundation initiative designed to create a cultural trail throughout the downtown. By partnering with local businesses […]
Phases 6 and 7 of BLink will be completed four years ahead of schedule More students in the Council Bluffs Community School District will be able to access the internet for free following a recently announced expansion of BLink Wi-Fi. Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges for students and families without internet […]
Council Bluffs native Brenda Mainwaring is the first female to lead the organization Following a nationwide search, the Iowa West Foundation (IWF) Board of Directors recently named the organization’s new leader. Council Bluffs native Brenda Mainwaring was selected to serve as the next President and CEO beginning in September. With the announcement, Mainwaring becomes the […]
(Council Bluffs, IA) – The latest addition to the Mid-America Center Entertainment District, an $8.5 million indoor turf facility for southwest Iowa athletes of all ages, is officially open for business this week. Located off of 23rd Avenue and adjacent to the Iowa West Field House, the Iowa West Sports Plex adds to the sports […]
(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 […]
