A group devoted to improving downtown Council Bluffs will be able to tackle more projects with a new $1.5 million grant.
The Pottawattamie County Development Corp. will use the grant from the Iowa West Foundation for a revitalization fund.
The corporation works with the city to redevelop underutilized or contaminated property.
The money will be used to supplement the costs of private developers interested in bringing projects to the downtown area, said Mark Norman, who works for the corporation and the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce.
"We're excited that we're going to be able to take on more projects," he said.
One project that the corporation is involved in would bring apartments to the area of South Main Street and 10th Avenue in two old brick buildings.
Other Iowa West grants awarded:
American Red Cross-Loess Hills Chapter; Support of local agencies "Helping with Emergency Energy Assistance" in Council Bluffs; $50,000.
Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department; Equipment to fight farmland wildfires; $2,000.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands; Elementary school based mentoring in Council Bluffs; $72,500.
Cass County Historical Society; Restoration of historic museum building in downtown Griswold; $50,000.
Children's Imagination Station Daycare and Preschool; Enhancement of classroom curriculum materials in Denison community preschool; $510.
City of Dunlap; Funding for the Community Wellness Center; $50,000.
Community Education Foundation Inc.; Support of a new quality child care assistance collaboration in Pottawattamie County; $192,000.
Community Housing Investment Corp.; Improvement of Council Bluffs' neighborhoods; $65,000.
Community Housing Investment Corp.; Assistance to low income families for home ownership; $225,000.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge; Preservation of historic Bertrand Steamboat collection; $39,000.
Dunlap Library Friends; Furnishings for patrons activity room; $1,000.
Enhancing Senior Living through the Arts; University of Nebraska at Omaha program for women on successful aging; $5,135.
Good Neighbor Foundation Inc.; A project in the Omaha metro area to assist mothers recovering from substance abuse; $3,100.
Inter-Faith Response, Inc.; A Pottawattamie County program to provide at-risk citizens with energy assistance; $25,000.
Iowa Engineering Foundation; Southwest Iowa MATHCOUNTS competition; $2,000.
Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance; Council Bluffs "Inner Circle" neighborhood project; $16,200.
Iowa West Foundation Initiative; Master planning for Highway 275 in Council Bluffs; $77,000.
League of Human Dignity Inc.; Program to increase accessible housing stock in southwest Iowa; $30,000.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Inc.; Funding for needed upgrade of technology; $50,150.
Mayhew Cabin Foundation; Renovation of historic cabin for education about the underground railroad in Nebraska City area; $10,000.
Merrymakers Association; Musical programs at southwest Iowa long-term care facilities; $20,000.
Playing With Fire Inc.; Summer concert series along Missouri Riverfront; $20,000.
Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors; Recapitalization of CITIES Program for county infrastructure projects; $245,000.
Pottawattamie County Development Corp.; Creation of a downtown revitalization fund for Council Bluffs downtown improvements; $1.5 million.
Society of American Military Engineers Omaha Post; Mentoring program for youth with interests in architecture and engineering; $5,000.
Southwest Iowa Planning Council; Acquisition of mobile data and vehicle locator equipment for Southwest Iowa Transit; $25,000.
State Historical Society of Iowa; Prairie restoration at the Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs; $27,980.55.
The Old Creamery Theatre Company; Performance in Pottawattamie County of the Young People's Touring Company of Amana, Iowa; $5,000.
The Salvation Army-Council Bluffs Corps; Emergency services and case management program to assist local families; $45,000.
The Salvation Army-Council Bluffs Corps; Capital funding for human services campus; $523,000.
The University of Iowa/Hancher Auditorium; Joffrey Ballet performance in Council Bluffs area; $100,000.
Woman's Care Center of the Heartland; Transitional housing and services for eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa women; $30,000