By Isaac Nielsen and Scott Stewart
The Daily Nonpareil
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — One of the latest Iowa West Foundation grants aims to address a long-standing challenge for rural volunteer fire departments by expanding access to firefighter training in the region.
Iowa West Foundation President and CEO Brenda Mainwaring told the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday about the grant as part of an update on the foundation’s second 2026 grant cycle, which awarded more than $4.6 million to projects and organizations across Southwest Iowa.
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Among the larger grants was $500,000 to the Nebraska Philanthropic Trust, the fundraising entity for Metropolitan Community College, to support a regional first responder education and training center planned near Gretna, Nebraska.
Mainwaring said volunteer departments have consistently identified training as a challenge, particularly because many firefighters balance emergency response with full-time jobs.
“Getting training for volunteers is a huge problem,” Mainwaring said. “This is one small step toward at least making sure training is available.”
She said Iowa West discussed the project with Council Bluffs Fire Department, which indicated it would be interested in using the facility. Mainwaring said Iowa Western Community College does not have immediate plans to expand its basic firefighter training, making the new center another option for local departments.
She acknowledged that traveling to Gretna could still be difficult for rural volunteer firefighters, who often complete training during evenings and weekends
However, the new center would improve access to specialized instruction. While paid departments aren’t supported directly by Iowa West with grant funding, the training facility will serve both volunteer departments and paid firefighters.
Iowa West also awarded more than $53,000 directly to charitable arms of area fire departments: $10,000 each to Carson, Macedonia and Treynor; $9,835 to Underwood; $9,362 to Walnut; and $4,000 to Missouri Valley.
Grow CB Initiative
Mainwaring also updated supervisors on the foundation’s $500,000 Grow CB initiative, which is focused on attracting new residents and supporting long-term population growth in Council Bluffs.
She said Council Bluffs, like many Iowa communities, has experienced little population growth, making it harder for local governments to maintain services without expanding the tax base.
Mainwaring also noted that each city in Pottawattamie County was eligible to receive $1,000 for community events designed to strengthen connections among residents.
Other major investments
Iowa West also awarded $1.35 million to the Green Hills Area Education Agency to provide preschool, an investment the foundation has made annually for years to boost learning outcomes for young children.
Firefly received $210,000 to expand access to Early Head Start services.
The foundation also earmarked $500,000 for improvements to the former Children’s Square campus in Council Bluffs that’s now part of the Omaha -based Child Saving Institute.
The STAR Scholarship program from the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation also received a $320,000 investment.
Legal services from the Iowa Legal Aid delivered in Council Bluffs schools were given $225,000, while the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement received $115,000 for services provided in Southwest Iowa.
The Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation received $150,000 for a community and economic growth initiative.
“This funding allows the Chamber to invest in our community’s most important asset: people,” Chris LaFerla, president and CEO of the Council Bluffs Chamber, said in a news release. “By activating downtown with events that bring residents together and supporting talent development, we can help build a stronger sense of shared identity while also supporting local small businesses.”
Supporting ‘small-town feel’
In total, the Iowa West Foundation awarded more than $4.6 million in grants and initiatives.
A release from Iowa West states the aim is to “contribute to making Council Bluffs and surrounding communities a desirable place to call home, as community leaders look to retain talent and attract more residents to Pottawattamie County .”
“Council Bluffs and surrounding communities have a lot to offer people who want a small-town feel with access to bigger city amenities,” Mainwaring said in the release. “This effort is not about changing the identity of Council Bluffs — it’s about building on what already makes the community special while creating new opportunities for the future, like supporting neighborhoods, offering more opportunities to connect, and telling our story more broadly.”
Investing in growth
LaFerla pointed to Iowa West’s awards as promoting growth.
“A vibrant and connected community is exactly what helps us keep young families and professionals energized to build their futures right here in Council Bluffs,” LaFerla said in the release.
Christine Paulson, neighborhood revitalization manager at Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs, expressed appreciation for $62,500 awarded to fund the nonprofit’s revitalization efforts.
“This funding helps us connect more effectively with our community and identify residents’ wants and needs,” Paulson said in the release. “Their support and feedback have been invaluable in helping us achieve our goal of improving residents’ overall quality of life in Council Bluffs.”
Each Pottawattamie County city was also offered $1,000 to create belonging opportunities in their community, such as Crescent’s ZIP Code Day held on May 15 — which was 5-15-26.
“Our ZIP Code Day celebration was a meaningful opportunity to bring neighbors together and strengthen community connections,” organizer Jody Shea said in the release. “We are also deeply appreciative of the foundation’s commitment to the Community Hall renovation project that will help preserve and enhance an important gathering space for residents and future generations and make a lasting impact on the quality of life in Crescent.”
Letters of inquiry for the next grant cycle are due Sept. 1. Find details at iowawestfoundation.org.
2026 Cycle 2 Grants & Initiatives
- American Midwest Ballet : $100,000 for operating funding
- Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement : $115,000 for legal services in Southwest Iowa
- Child Saving Institute : $500,000 for campus improvements at Children’s Square
- City of Crescent: $33,000 for Community Hall renovation
- City of Imogene: $50,000 for North Bar/South Bank renovation
- Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation : $150,000 for CB Community & Economic Growth Initiative
- Council Bluffs Schools Foundation : $320,000 for STARS Scholarship program
- Council Bluffs Schools Foundation : $15,000 program for students with special needs
- Danish Mill Corporation : $5,000 for fantail preservation
- Family Crisis Centers Inc. : $8,500 for Iowa Victim Service Call Center
- Firefly: $210,000 for Early Head Start expansion
- Friends of the Griswold Library : $30,000 for public library reorganization
- Food Bank of Iowa : $30,000 for fighting childhood hunger in Adams , Audubon , Carroll and Taylor counties
- Food Bank for the Heartland : $37,200 for Southwest Iowa mobile pantry program
- Green Hills Area Education Agency : $1,350,000 for preschool in Pottawattamie County
- Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs : $62,500 for neighborhood revitalization
- Iowa Legal Aid : $225,000 for school-based attorney services for eligible CBCSD families
- Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation : $33,045 for “School of the Wild” expansion in Western Iowa
- Iowa West Foundation Initiative: $500,000 for Growing CB
- Iowa Western Community College Foundation : $32,000 for Iowa Western Arts Center National Performance, Youth, and Comedy Series
- Iowa Western Community College Foundation : $35,000 for Skills for Success
- Lauritzen Gardens : $25,000 for school field trips and summer camps for southwest Iowa students
- Luminarium: $25,000 for school field trips and reduced cost visits/memberships for Southwest Iowa families
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – Southwest Iowa : $25,000 for operating funding
- Nebraska Diaper Bank : $10,000 for diapers for southwest Iowa families
- Nebraska Philanthropic Trust : $500,000 for regional first responder education and training center
- Omaha Symphony : $23,000 for music education programs in Southwest Iowa
- Rose Theater : $23,650 for Creative Heroes program for Council Bluffs students
- Rose Theater : $9,808 for field trips for southwest Iowa students
- Together Inc. : $55,000 for counseling for housing stability
- University of Nebraska Foundation – Samuel Bak Museum : $24,790 for field trips for Southwest Iowa students
- Various Community Housing Organization Serving Council Bluffs: $15,800 in Iowa Housing Summit Scholarships
Rural fire department funding for equipment:
- Carson Volunteer Fire Dept . — $10,000
- Macedonia Fireman’s Association — $10,000
- Missouri Valley Volunteer Fire Dept . — $4,000
- Treynor Fire & Rescue Association — $10,000
- Underwood Volunteer Fire & Rescue — $9,835
- Walnut Volunteer Fire Dept . — $9,362
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