The future of Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County isn't being shaped behind closed doors—it's being shaped by the people who live, work, invest, and build community here every day.
Right now, two important initiatives are seeking public input to help guide decisions that will influence everything from economic development and housing to placemaking, downtown investment, and quality of life. While each effort has a different focus, both share a common goal: ensuring community voices help shape the future.
Building on Community Priorities
Over the past two years, the Iowa West Foundation and its partners have worked to better understand how residents view Council Bluffs today and what they hope to see in the future.
Through community conversations, research, the Council Bluffs Area Survey, and the recent Voices & Vision event, residents identified several recurring themes. Participants emphasized the importance of population growth, attracting and retaining young families, strengthening economic opportunities, and embracing Council Bluffs' unique position within the greater Omaha metro.
Supported by the Iowa West Foundation, the City of Council Bluffs, the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, Pottawattamie County, and Advance Southwest Iowa, the Growing CB initiative focuses on identifying opportunities to strengthen the community today and in the years ahead.
Key areas of focus include:
- Economic Development
- Education
- Healthy Families
- Placemaking
As the effort continues, community members are encouraged to stay involved and help shape strategies that support long-term success while addressing opportunities that can make an impact in the near term.
Want to stay informed as this initiative evolves? Sign up for project updates and learn how community input is helping shape future strategies and priorities.
Planning for the Next Generation
At the same time, the City of Council Bluffs has launched Elevate CB 2050, a community-driven planning effort that includes both the Council Bluffs 2050 Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Master Plan.
This long-range initiative will help guide growth and investment over the next 25 years while establishing a shared vision for how Council Bluffs evolves to better serve residents, businesses, and visitors.
Topics include:
- Land Use
- Housing
- Transportation
- Public Infrastructure and Utilities
- Economic Development
- Downtown Revitalization
- Public Spaces
- Arts and Culture
- Historic Preservation
- Sustainability and Resilience
While the Voices & Vision initiative is helping identify priorities and opportunities that can influence decisions in both the near and long term, Elevate CB 2050 is focused on creating an implementation-ready roadmap for future growth and development.
Residents, business owners, and stakeholders will have opportunities to participate through surveys, interactive mapping exercises, public workshops, and community engagement events throughout the planning process.
Ready to help shape the future of Council Bluffs? Visit the project's engagement hub to complete the Community Vision Survey, pin ideas on the interactive map, sign up for updates, and learn about upcoming workshops.
Why Participation Matters
Strong communities don't happen by accident. They are built through collaboration, thoughtful planning, and input from people with different perspectives and experiences.
Whether you've lived in Council Bluffs your entire life, recently moved to the area, own a business, work in the community, or simply care about its future, your voice can help shape what comes next.
Together, these initiatives represent an opportunity to celebrate what makes our community special while identifying ways to grow, improve, and thrive for generations to come.
Take a few minutes to learn more, participate, and help shape the future of Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County.
