Iowa West Foundation announces more than $4 million in Cycle 2 grants focused on youth and housing

Brenda Mainwaring with the Iowa West Foundation updated the council on Cycle 2 grant awards and said the foundation distributed more than $4,000,000 this cycle to 40 organizations with a strong focus on programs for young people and housing stability. Mainwaring said awards cover traditional school-based and extracurricular programs, workforce pathways, housing repair and stability work, and capacity-building for community partners. She identified a pledge of $1 million to Child Saving Institute for operating costs in Council Bluffs, described a $150,000 housing-stability fund to be managed through Together, Inc., and noted a $325,000 award for the Council Plus Plus Pathways program and support for Iowa Western workforce training and scholarship programs. Mainwaring said the housing-stability fund will pay for common barriers that could put residents at risk of losing housing — for example, short-term assistance for car repairs that prevent someone from getting to work — and that the fund will be monitored through Together, Inc. She also said the foundation is supporting home repairs for older adults through a new organization, Project House Works, and continuing support for Habitat and other housing partners. Mainwaring told councilmembers a press release would be distributed to the public the next day and offered to send the full release and allocation details to council by email. Ending: Councilmembers asked for the press release and follow-up details; Mainwaring said staff would distribute an updated release with more information to the council the following day.