The Iowa West Foundation in Council Bluffs has announced fourth-quarter grants totaling nearly $4.3 million to thirty-two nonprofit organizations and governmental entities in support of community development and education projects.

The awards include a five-year, $2.2 million grant to establish Advance Southwest Iowa, a public-private community development partnership between the foundation, the City of Council Bluffs, the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, Pottawattamie County, and the Western Iowa Development Association. Education-related grants include support for two of the foundation's initiatives: the Iowa West Opportunity Scholarship Program ($495,000), which annually provides twenty-five four-year scholarships of $16,000 each; and the College Access Program ($345,000), which provides students with financial aid, college placement test preparation, campus visits, and academic planning. Both programs are designed to assist local high school students who might otherwise not go to college.

"Economic development and education are two of the Iowa West Foundation's top strategic focus areas, and our grants in those areas came to the forefront this round," said Iowa West president and CEO Pete Tulipana. "[The Advance Southwest Iowa initiative] is an important step for the success of economic development in the region. In these changing times, success in economic development is enhanced through regional cooperation."

For a complete list of grant recipients, visit the Iowa West Foundation Web site.