Two rural Pottawattamie County residents appointed to Iowa West board

(Council Bluffs, IA) Iowa West’s Board of Directors recently appointed two new board members to serve 3-year terms. Travis Castle of Treynor and Joanie Poore of Underwood will fulfill two board positions reserved for rural representatives of southwest Iowa.

“We are pleased to welcome to the board two community-minded individuals with unique perspectives who will represent the many smaller cities in our geographic service area,” said Matt Gronstal, Iowa West Foundation Board Chair. “Their experience and expertise ranges from the financial industry to housing/homelessness and will be extremely valuable going forward as we implement our strategic plan.”

Castle is a small business owner of Castle & Associates of American Family Insurance who’s heavily involved in his community and Poore is the CEO of Omaha Housing Authority with several years of experience on the Foundation’s Healthy Families Advisory Committee.

“As a life-long resident of southwest Iowa, I believe the impact the Iowa West Racing Association and the Iowa West Foundation have on our community is inspiring,” Poore said. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve on the board and be a part of that impact.”

Castle echoed her sentiments.

“As a life-long citizen of rural Iowa communities, I have developed a passion and understand the importance of providing leadership and development in these regions,” Castle said.  “I look forward to carrying on the rich tradition of impact that the Iowa West Foundation has had on our region. It will be exciting to see how southwest Iowa families and communities continue to prosper in the years to come.”

The Iowa West Foundation and the Iowa West Racing Association boards also elected officers for 2022.

“Our Board members have the significant responsibility of being good stewards of the Foundation’s assets and ensuring that our investments have a lasting impact, said Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “We appreciate all of our volunteer board members who serve as great contributors to helping communities achieve their dreams.”

Nominations for board members are received from the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, Council Bluffs City Council, the Council Bluffs Community School District, and Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.

Media Inquiries:

Nicole Lindquist
Director of Communications
w: 712-309-3004
c: 402-981-2289
nlindquist@iowawestfoundation.org

You may also like...

Iowa West Foundation, CB Chamber and City of CB Launch Council Bluffs Area Survey

June 19, 2025

The Iowa West Foundation, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, and City of Council Bluffs—together with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research—are conducting the Council Bluffs Area Survey to better understand what attracts people to live and work in our community and what supports long-term satisfaction and success. Why this matters: […]

View Post

Iowa West Foundation Awards $3.9 Million In Grants & Initiatives

April 1, 2025

Funding supports events for residents + tourists alike; housing continues to be a focus The Iowa West Foundation (IWF) continues to inject funds into non-profit organizations that retain residents and attract visitors to Council Bluffs, while also adding to the housing stock to allow more people to call Pottawattamie County home. The Board of Directors […]

View Post

Iowa West Foundation Grants $2.5 Million to Westfair’s Massive Modernization and Expansion Efforts in Pottawattamie County

January 9, 2025

Council Bluffs, IA — In a fairground game-changer, Iowa West Foundation announced a $2.5 million lead gift to Council Bluffs’ Westfair as part of a multi-phased $34 million campaign to revitalize the beloved fairgrounds and amphitheater and enhance the visitor experience for years to come. For 50 years, Westfair has been a cornerstone of the […]

View Post