(Council Bluffs, IA) – Rual communities in southwest Iowa continue to build and thrive, thanks in part to an Iowa West Foundation economic development program that supports infrastructure in Pottawattamie County. Nearly $1 million in grant funding was awarded to five southwest Iowa towns with populations around 1,000 as part of the Vibrant Rural Communities program (VIBE). The grants will support projects that include a community center renovation and water and sewer infrastructure for future housing development among other projects.
“Our vision strives for communities where people love to live with an emphasis on the ‘S’ in communities,” said Brenda Mainwaring, President, and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “Rural residents have immense pride in their towns, and we are pleased to be able to support their efforts to build and grow their hometowns.”
IWF’s VIBE program is supported by Advance Southwest Iowa – which also received an operating grant for $225,000 – with consulting assistance from McClure Engineering. Together, they help Pottawattamie County communities identify capital improvement projects and assist with applications for potential funding resources.
“We are grateful for the Foundation’s support, which has empowered us to create new opportunities for growth in rural communities,” said Paula Hazlewood, CEO of Advance Southwest Iowa. “Thanks to this partnership, we are building a stronger local economy and a brighter future for our residents.”
“We look at communities around Pottawattamie County through our work with Iowa West Foundation, and there are so many opportunities,” said Bethany Wilcoxon, Senior Advisor with McClure Engineering. “However, a lot of these communities only have a city clerk and they’re trying to get out water bills and keep city councils moving forward. VIBE is about figuring out how do we pull all the resources together to help.”
Pottawattamie County Supervisor Susan Miller, who lives in a rural southwest Iowa community, echoed those sentiments.
“If you drove through the rural parts of the county, you would see a resurgence right now in energy,” she said. “There are new businesses coming to the main streets. There are new houses being built. There’s a lot of community pride going on right now. And I know that is because of the programs that Iowa West has offered; they’ve created that environment. But you’ve just got to have community spirit that will move the needle, and right now we’ve got that going on.”
In addition to VIBE projects, the Foundation awarded grants in Adams County for building revitalization, Crawford County mobile pantries, and Cass County for a new mental health program. Carson also received a grant for a façade renovation on Main Street and Macedonia for fire safety equipment for their volunteer fire department.
Partnerships with local casinos Ameristar, Harrah’s, and Horseshoe make it possible for the Foundation to continuously award outcome-focused grants in southwest Iowa communities that support belonging, financial stability, opportunities, and wellbeing. Fees from gaming and income from Foundation investments provide funding for programs and projects that benefit the residents of 14 counties in southwest Iowa.
The Iowa West Foundation has a two-step grants process, with Letters of Inquiry (LOI) accepted year-round. LOIs received by Jan. 2 will be considered in the next cycle with final applications due by Jan. 15th. All applicants will need to create a Giving Data account to access the LOI and application unless they have already done so.
VIBE Projects in Rural Communities
City of Avoca
Community Center
$125,000
City of Hancock
Tree removal
$15,000
City of Oakland
Sourcing wells
$400,000
City of Treynor
Infrastructure
$125,000
City of Underwood
Wastewater upgrade
$250,000
Adams County Economic Development Corporation
Historic Widener Building revitalization
$175,000
Advance Southwest Iowa
Operating support
$225,000
Anawim Housing
Supportive housing
$360,000
Carson Business Club
Revitalize Dreamland Theatre façade
$40,000
Cass County Memorial Hospital
Hope Squad Mental Health Program
$15,000
City of Council Bluffs
Activation and ambassador of First Ave
$281,800
Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau
Attracting sporting events in 2025
$50,000
Crawford County Hunger Fighters
Mobile food pantries
$5,000
Dreamweaver Foundation
Merrymakers performances at senior living facilities in southwest Iowa
$5,000
Economic Empowerment Center
Services and financial education for low-income residents
$50,000
Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs
Homeownership and Home Repair Program
$300,000
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG)
Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub Career Success Coach
$50,000
La Fuente
Spanish language business and financial literacy classes
$30,000
Macedonia Firemen’s Association
Fire safety equipment
$7,730
Nebraska Wildlife Rehab
Services for southwest Iowa residents
$25,000
Omaha Performing Arts Society
School based enrichment for 1,500 southwest Iowa students
$25,000
Nicole Lindquist
Director of Communications
w: 712-309-3004
c: 402-981-2289
nlindquist@iowawestfoundation.org
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