Officials with the Iowa West Foundation have announced the recipients of the organization’s grants for the third-quarter 2012. The grants amount to more than $3.95-million altogether. The grants will be used to assist 43 non-profit organizations and governmental entities with funding for area projects. The largest grant, in the amount of $1.274-million, was awarded to Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors’, CITIES program, to help rural communities meet infrastructure needs.

A complete list of the Iowa West Foundation grant recipients and the amounts they received for the third quarter, is listed below:

– American Cancer Society, “Hope Lodge” for Iowa/Nebraska patients in need of lodging during treatment in Omaha area, $150,000

– Ballet Nebraska, planning and marketing project, $5,000

– Bedford, Iowa, Foundation, oral health equipment in new clinic for underserved population, $25,000

– Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, outreach to youth in Council Bluffs by artists-in-residence, $62,500

– Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, community-based mentoring in southwest Iowa for children facing adversity, $40,000

– Bluffs Arts Council, exhibit of Louis Grell mural at Pottawattamie County Courthouse, $1,000

– Center for the Advancement of Self-Sufficiency Inc., technology for training to improve services assisting the disabled in southwest Iowa, $25,000

– City of Avoca, public safety enhancement initiative to increase services, $17,500

– City of Avoca, gateway signage for community, $25,000

– City of Council Bluffs, “First Night,” a New Years Eve family festival, $30,000

– City of Crescent, repair of city tennis court, $12,000

– City of Griswold, new playground equipment at Cocklin Fish Farm Park, $10,000

– City of Griswold, fire and rescue equipment replacement, $2,000

– City of Lenox, new baseball / softball fields for youth, $10,000

– City of Oakland, community project including fitness and senior center, $200,000

– City of Stanton, furnishings for new public library, $30,000

– Council Bluffs Goodfellows, program to assist local families during holiday season, $45,000

– Council Bluffs Public Library, replacement of outdated technology, $44,500

– Downtown Omaha Inc. Foundation, holiday lights festival, $15,000

– Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs, renovation of buildings for “ReStore” retail center and office space, $500,000

– Heartland Family Service, HEAT 2013 emergency assistance for residents and families in Pottawattamie County, $170,000

– Heartland Family Service, purchase of van for transportation needs of “Family Works” program, $13,000

– HELP Adult Services, health and medical equipment loan program in southwest Iowa, $4,300

– Hitchcock House Advisory Board, “Granary” welcome center at historic site near Lewis, $10,000

– Iowa Lions Foundation, “Kidsight” program in Council Bluffs, $2,500

– Iowa Newspaper Foundation, Western Iowa “Newspapers in Education” program, $18,500

– Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska, expansion of legal services into Pottawattamie County, $20,000

– Keep Council Bluffs Beautiful, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment, and marketing projects, $15,000

– Lied Public Library a/k/a Clarinda Public Library, technology improvements for library users, $1,150

– Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Inc., the Pottawattamie County Center for Healthy Families, $40,000

– Macedonia Historical Preservation Society, expansion of the Pioneer Trail Museum, $51,025

– Mills County (IA) Public Health, “Family Matters” recovery project, $15,000

– Neighborhood Center of Greater Omaha, evaluation of programs in Council Bluffs / Pottawattamie County, $60,000

– Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, information sharing project for local nonprofits, $12,000

– Oakland Historical Society, renovations at the Nishna Heritage Museum, $37,500

– Omaha Children’s Museum, outreach program to schools in Council Bluffs and Omaha Museum, $40,000

– Omaha Theater Company, Rose Theater renovation project, $50,000

– One World Community Health Centers Inc., expansion of prenatal healthcare services in Omaha metro area, $40,000

– Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, CITIES program to help rural communities meet infrastructure needs, $1,274,059

– Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, CITIES program evaluation, $20,000

– Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, improvements master plan for county parks, $13,300

– Pottawattamie County Firefighters Association, equipment upgrades/replacements for volunteer fire departments, $150,000

– Stephens Center, construction of new homeless shelter in Omaha, $250,000

– The Durham Museum, “Scholars in Residence” education series at Omaha museum, $10,000

– United Way of the Midlands, human services programs in Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area, $361,000

– VSA Arts Nebraska, creative arts program at VODEC Center in Council Bluffs, $3,000

– Youth Enhancement Association, youth sports complex in Missouri Valley, $25,000

Funding for the Foundation’s grants comes from investment earning and the Iowa West Racing Association (IWRA), which receives contracted fees from casino operators – Ameristar and Harrahs. IWRA distributes funds to the IWF, which is an independent non-profit (501 c 3) organization, under the IRS Code. The Foundation makes grants throughout southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska.