“Those conversations have already led to two new programs that we hope will address some of the gaps that our experts identified.” “And we have convened local experts to help us understand housing needs across the spectrum of near-homeless to comfortably housed,” Mainwaring says.

Mainwaring says the foundation is already implementing residents’ ideas and suggestions.įor example, Iowa West retooled its support for education to focus on job readiness to meet the needs of rural and urban students. It is funded by investment income and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contracted fees paid by local casino operators – Ameristar, Harrah’s and Horseshoe. The foundation, which provides grants for community projects by government entities and nonprofit organizations, is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the Midwest. “ can expand and develop those ideas to strengthen our communities’ love of Southwest Iowa.” The best ideas for how to make a community a place where people love to live are going to come from the people who already call it home,” Mainwaring says. “We all want to live in a community where we are included and appreciated. When we asked what would make this place even better, we heard recurring themes relating to housing and workforce education.” Stronger Communities Our community has so many points of pride. “Instead, we asked, ‘What do you love about your community?’ The response was remarkable.

“Going into any public listening sessions, there’s always a risk of unleashing a flood of criticism about irritants like potholes, but that didn’t happen,” says Iowa West Foundation President and CEO Brenda Mainwaring. The organization uses these sessions to help set its priorities, and the community’s responses are already positively impacting the region. These are questions the Iowa West Foundation asked Pottawattamie County, IA, residents during its recent Imagine Hours sessions.

What do you love about your community? Where do you spend your time? How could the place you call home be better?

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