Lakin foundation reaffirms commitment to Revitalize Southwest Iowa program

The Charles E. Lakin Foundation’s Revitalize Southwest Iowa project is doing some slight revamping.
This is the latest update in the wake of the funding being announced roughly two years ago. In July of 2025, The Red Oak Area Partnership was formed, made up of community leaders and volunteers. The organization was formed after the announcement by the Lakin Foundation in October, 2024, of the Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative, a $165 million dollar donation to the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, with the purpose of the donation being economic growth and population growth in the six counties that make up Southwest Iowa among 51 communities, including Red Oak.  The Red Oak Area Partnership, Inc. was formally organized as a corporation in February, 2025 and obtained their non-profit 501(c)3 status in May, 2025.  
The Revitalize Southwest Iowa funding has been allocated out to these counties and then communities pro rata based on population. The amount of funding that Red Oak gets is based on what the population is and the city’s endowment is roughly $18.75 million. The funding can be utilized in two different forms to accomplish items in those arenas. One way is through grant dollars. The organization can take 5% of its endowment value annually in the form of grant funding into the community to help with things like child care. The organization could also borrow funds from that endowment to facilitate capital projects such as housing.
Earlier in March, Steve Wild, President of the Charles E. Lakin Foundation Board of Directors notified the Red Oak Area Partnership, Inc. (ROAP) that they have been unanimously approved to serve as Red Oak’s fund advisor for the Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative.
Towards the end of April/early May, Werges said the ROAP and other communities that have qualified for the  funding received a letter updating them on the progress of the initiative from Wild. The letter is as follows:

“I want to reaffirm the Charles E. Lakin Foundation’s deep and ongoing commitment to Southwest Iowa and the communities we are privileged to serve.
The Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative was created with a clear purpose: to address long-standing population decline and help create a future where our communities are growing, vibrant, and full of opportunity. We continue to believe strongly in that vision and in the strength, resilience, and potential of this region.
That commitment is reflected in the work already underway across Southwest Iowa. Over the past several years, the Foundation has invested in and helped lead several significant capital projects and community-based programs throughout the region. For your reference, we have compiled a summary of these initiatives - including key capital projects and programs such as Career EdVantage and Teammates - to provide a broader view of the work already underway and to highlight the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the region.
Over the past year, we have taken a thoughtful approach to evaluating how this Initiative can best achieve lasting impact. As a result, we are refining and strengthening its structure to ensure long-term sustainability, meaningful outcomes, and strong collaboration with local communities.
As part of this next phase, the Foundation will administer Initiative funding directly and establish a sustainable framework for supporting community-driven priorities. Our long-term model remains centered on annual community grants, with funding beginning in 2027 based on a percentage of each community’s year-end fund balance.
Housing development remains a top priority across Southwest Iowa. While we are not yet in a position to launch the housing loan program, we are building the necessary infrastructure and aligning resources to support it effectively. We expect to have greater clarity later this year.
During this period, our focus is on preparation - ensuring that when these programs are fully implemented, they are structured for long-term success and meaningful impact. We appreciate your patience as we complete this work.
We also remain committed to strengthening connections across communities. To support this, we are planning a regional Southwest Iowa conference this November to share ideas, learn from one another, and continue advancing revitalization efforts across the region.
Thank you for your leadership, your partnership, and your continued dedication to your community. We look forward to continuing this work together.”
Tim Werges serves as the president of the Red Oak Area Partnership. Werges gave a breakdown of what the letter means for the future of the program.
“They are moving into what they’ve called Phase 2 of Revitalize Southwest Iowa. So their vision and commitment to the Revitalize Southwest Iowa initiative, as it was announced back in October of 25, remains as strong as it was then,” Werges said.

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