Throughout 2024, the Council Bluffs Chamber and Iowa West Foundation partnered to hear from community members about their concerns that Council Bluffs isn’t growing and we aren’t attracting or keeping young families.

In 2025, we began gathering data and opinions to determine if the concern was widespread and based on reliable data. We had experts examine census data, launched the Council Bluffs Area Survey in the summer of 2025 asking for opinions about Council Bluffs’ quality of life, and talked to local residents to get their ideas.

All of these elements came together at Voices & Vision – a community luncheon where attendees answered questions in real-time about the research, survey results, and community ideas.

Explore the Full Findings
If you missed Voices & Vision, all presentations and videos are available online. We encourage community members, businesses, and partners to review the findings and join us in the work ahead.

Together, we can shape a stronger, more vibrant Council Bluffs—one that attracts and retains talent, supports business success, and fosters a deep sense of belonging.