(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $3.7 million in grant and initiative funding to 14 nonprofits and government entities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. The largest recipient was the City of Council Bluffs, which received $2,000,000 for West Broadway beatification, $500,000 for new signage at the Mid-America Center and $25,000 for holiday lights at Bayliss Park.

The $2 million for West Broadway is the second installment of a $9 million total investment for aesthetic improvements to Council Bluffs’ main thoroughfare. The holiday lights grant is also the second phase of funding to expand the annual tradition at Bayliss Park. New signage at the MAC is a next step in the Foundation’s strategy to reinvigorate the area. With the addition of The Courtyard by Marriott hotel opening soon and the continued success of the Iowa West Field House, as well as the interest of restauranteurs, the area is poised for greater growth and in need of proper signage to identifying amenities and heighten the visibility of the entertainment district.

“These grants are a part of our economic development and placemaking strategies. We believe they will make our community an attractive place to live and do business,” said Pete Tulipana, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “Whether it be through large initiatives like West Broadway or smaller grants like the holiday lights, placemaking investments are both extremely visible and impactful for both our residents and visitors.”

Healthy families also was a theme of the latest cycle of funding. Heartland Family Service received $160,000 to continue providing mental health services and teacher training at Lewis Central schools while FAMILY, Inc. received $35,000 toward the Raise Me to Read campaign designed to support literacy and early learning in Pottawattamie County. The Charles E. Lakin YMCA was awarded $100,000 to cover costs to merge with The Center in Council Bluffs.

“Our strategic alliance with The Center is going to increase our organizations’ community-wide impact,” said Chris Tointon, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Omaha. “This grant from the Iowa West Foundation is a yet another great show of support from the community for the partnership, representing the belief that the Y and The Center will be better together.”

In the focus area of education, Iowa Western Community College Foundation received more than half a million dollars to continuing implementing Iowa West Foundation’s post-secondary education initiative, Pottawattamie Promise. Now entering its fourth year, the program provides full tuition scholarships and support services in high school and college to Council Bluffs, Riverside, Lewis Central, A-H-S-T-W, and Tri-Center community schools’ students. Approximately 70 new students will begin their college careers at Iowa Western this fall.

Vice President of Student Services at Iowa Western, Tori Christie, said Pottawattamie Promise has been a “game-changer” for many student scholars by minimizing the multitude of obstacles they encounter.

“More young adults are going to college, and more of them are succeeding in that endeavor – an endeavor that many didn’t think was in their future,” she said. “It is amazing to know that we are achieving our goal of improving post-secondary attainment.”

Finally, as part of its ongoing commitment to rural southwest Iowa communities, the Foundation also awarded grants to two fire departments in Pottawattamie County. The Avoca Volunteer Fire Department received $10,000 and Walnut Fire and Rescue received $9,986, both for EMS equipment.