SWIPCO and SWITA Present to Board of Supervisors

Posted February 5, 2026
Posted by Board of Supervisors and Public Relations

During a recent meeting, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors received updates from the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) and the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), highlighting ongoing regional partnerships that support local communities, infrastructure, and transportation access across the county. 

Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) 

John McCurdy, Executive Director of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council, provided an overview of SWIPCO’s work and its role as a regional planning organization serving communities throughout southwest Iowa. Pottawattamie County and its cities are members of SWIPCO, which recently marked its 50th year of service. 

SWIPCO assists communities with a wide range of planning and development services, including grant writing and administration, ordinance and zoning updates, building code enforcement, housing rehabilitation programs, and infrastructure planning for water, sewer, and wastewater systems. Much of this work focuses on helping rural communities access services and expertise that may be difficult to support at the local level alone. 

McCurdy highlighted SWIPCO’s role in flood recovery efforts following the 2019 floods, noting that the organization managed more than $140 million in disaster recovery grants across the region. Outside of disaster funding, SWIPCO has also helped secure approximately $90 million in infrastructure grants, resulting in more than $280 million in public infrastructure improvements. 

In recent years, SWIPCO has worked with several communities within Pottawattamie County on projects including housing rehabilitation, derelict building remediation, zoning and ordinance updates, and wastewater and water system planning. The organization also provides guidance and technical assistance to city clerks and local officials, particularly during periods of staff transition. 

SWIPCO’s membership dues for Pottawattamie County are based on rural population and support continued access to these regional planning services. 

Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) 

Mark Lander, representing the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency, shared an update on public transit services provided in Pottawattamie County. 

During the most recent fiscal year, SWITA provided nearly 165,000 rides within the county, operating more than 430,000 miles and logging approximately 20,000 service hours. The agency currently has 20 transit vehicles based in Pottawattamie County and operates with an annual county operating budget of approximately $1.1 million. 

SWITA offers a range of transportation services, including door-to-door rides for residents, workforce transportation routes, and partnerships with local employers. Workforce transportation includes routes serving major employers such as OSI, Oakland Foods, Monogram Prepared Meats, and a growing vanpool program connecting employees to Google facilities. That vanpool program is expected to continue expanding over the next several years. 

Lander also announced recent grant awards supporting future transit improvements. SWITA received a $50,000 grant to launch a medical transportation pilot program in partnership with local hospitals, designed to help residents travel to and from medical appointments. If successful, the program could receive additional funding in future years. 

In addition, SWITA was awarded an $8.75 million federal grant toward construction of a new transit facility in Council Bluffs. The planned facility will replace the agency’s current location and support long-term operations and service growth in the region. 

SWITA has been recognized as Iowa’s Regional Transit System of the Year for three consecutive years and continues to see steady growth in ridership and service demand. 

Continued Regional Collaboration 

The Board of Supervisors expressed appreciation for the ongoing work of both organizations and their impact on communities throughout Pottawattamie County. SWIPCO and SWITA remain key regional partners, supporting planning, infrastructure, transportation access, and quality of life for residents across both rural and urban areas. 

For more information about these organizations, visit: 

• Southwest Iowa Planning Council: www.swipco.org 

• Southwest Iowa Transit Agency: www.swita.com