(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $6.4 million in grants and initiatives funding to 21 nonprofit organizations and government entities with projects and programs that directly impact southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. For the first time ever, the Foundation awarded multi-year funding to seven nonprofit organizations in Pottawattamie County.

The multi-year funding program is designed to provide essential general operating funds over a three year period to organizations who fulfill the most critical roles in Pottawattamie County.

IA West Foundation logo

Among the selected organizations is: The Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands ($85,000); FAMILY, Inc. ($120,000) for Birth-Three Parent Education programming; Green Hills AEA, ($1.1-million) for Pott. County Preschool; Heartland Family Service  ($330,000) for Iowa Family Works, Homeless Link & Substance Abuse Prevention; Justice For Our Neighbors, ($65,000) for legal assistance to low income immigrants in southwest Iowa; Lutheran Family Services ($35,000) for the Pott. County Center for Healthy Families & RSafe Program, and the MICAH House ($70,000).

The level of support awarded to each organization over the three year period is based on due diligence findings, with consideration to recent funding levels. The sole restriction for the general operating funds is that it must be used to support the organization’s operations in southwest Iowa. At the conclusion of the three year period, based-on ongoing community need and additional due diligence, organizations may be recommended for renewal of multi-year funding.

The Foundation also announced $500,000 in funding for its most recent initiative, which brings together five local community development organizations in Council Bluffs to focus on proactive “placemaking.” Placemaking includes real estate development, neighborhood engagement, design and activation of public spaces. The organizations merging to form the coalition include Bluffs Downtown, Live Well Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County Development Corporation, which will work in alignment with the Council Bluffs Housing Trust Fund and Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs. The yet-to-be-named nonprofit is currently in the process of hiring a CEO.

The City of Council Bluffs was another major recipient of funding. The City received $175,000 for the fourth annual Loessfest to be held over the Memorial Day weekend as well as an additional $1,515,000 for a landing park at the Riverfront, bringing the total IWF funding amount for Phase II of the park to $3.5 million. Located off the foot of the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge on the dry side of the levy and just east of Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park’s Great Lawn, the landing park will be a crowned jewel for Council Bluffs.

Pending City Council approval, construction is slated to begin in early spring, with projected completion in summer of 2017.