Stories

Iowa West Foundation Awards $3.7 Million In Grants & Initiatives

March 26, 2024

Funding supports access to preschool, playgrounds, and financial freedom (Council Bluffs, IA) – A recent report from the Iowa Department of Education found that Pottawattamie County ranked No. 1 in Iowa for kindergarteners’ early literacy skills, a significant increase over the past five years. Since 2008, Iowa West Foundation has invested more than $18 million in […]

View Post

“The Best Jiu Jitsu” Coming to Iowa West Wrestling Center

February 10, 2024

Local law enforcement will receive a discounted rate to utilize the space for training The community is invited to attend an open house and ribbon cutting for The Best Jiu Jitsu, an addition to The Best Wrestler at the Iowa West Wrestling Center that adjoins the Iowa West Field House on Saturday, Feb. 10th at […]

View Post

Iowa West Welcomes New Staff, Board, and Advisory Committee Members

January 25, 2024

Solomon hired as Office Coordinator, Alford Elected to Board, and Forristall and German Join Advisory Committee The Iowa West Foundation recently welcomed several new members to the organization. Council Bluffs native Emily Solomon began her role on staff as the office coordinator and former advisory committee member Mike Alford was elected to the Iowa West […]

View Post

Iowa West Foundation Awards $4.3 Million In Grants & Initiatives

November 15, 2023

Funding supports thriving rural communities in southwest Iowa The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $4.3 million in grant and initiative funding toward creating vibrant southwest Iowa communities where residents love to live, employees can learn as they earn, and places to play are plentiful. The cities of Avoca, Carson, Carroll, Denison, Dunlap, […]

View Post

Rural Volunteer Fire Departments

October 10, 2023

$2 million to 50+ Communities  In small, rural Iowa communities, fire departments play a vital role in safeguarding their communities and are important to the success and wellbeing of the towns they serve. Sadly, they often operate with limited resources to sustain their operations. City budgets typically only cover essential expenses, such as vehicles and […]

View Post

Iowa Legal Aid: Eviction Diversion Help Desk

October 9, 2023

Iowa Legal Aid: Eviction Diversion Help Desk From Crisis to Solution: Iowa Legal Aid’s Impact on Eviction Rates  Have you ever been so shocked by a statistic that it drove you to make a change?  Erin Planalp, an attorney with Iowa Legal Aid, was immediately alarmed when she learned Pottawattamie County had the greatest increase […]

View Post

ASPIRE

September 8, 2023

Today’s Students = Tomorrow’s Workforce ASPIRE was created in partnership with Pottawattamie County school districts to serve the unique needs of both urban and rural students. It allows superintendents to use flexible funding to grow existing workforce training programs or launch new ones. Each program ensures students receive support in their career exploration and assistance […]

View Post

Iowa West Foundation Awards $3 Million In Grants

July 25, 2023

Funding supports students in and out of the classroom; Housing remains a focus of IWF’s work (Council Bluffs, IA) – When southwest Iowa students head back to school next month, they will have unique opportunities in the classroom and beyond thanks to Iowa West Foundation grants. A long-time supporter of arts & culture in southwest Iowa, […]

View Post