MAPA presents 2024 Regional Service and Citizenship Awards

A county agency whose mission is to provide meaningful experiences with the county’s unique natural resources for people of all ages and a suburban mayor helping her community navigate times of strong growth were recognized at the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) Council of Officials Annual Meeting Oct. 5, 2024, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Mayor Cindy Grove of Valley, Nebraska, received MAPA’s 2024 Regional Citizenship Award and Pottawattamie Conservation received MAPA’s 2024 Regional Service Award.

The Regional Citizenship Award honors an individual who recognized regional problems and initiated and supported policies which required a shared regional effort and contributed to the region’s quality of life.

Mayor Grove has demonstrated strong leadership during times of rapid growth and change in the region. Her instrumental role in initiatives such as Valley’s Community Collaboration Group and comprehensive Community Needs Assessment and the Western Douglas County Planning Collaborative have had a profound impact on the well-being of the MAPA region.

The Regional Service Award is given to groups that have contributed to the metropolitan area to help improve or grow it.

Pottawattamie Conservation, with support from the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the conservation of unique natural resources and contributed to regionally significant recreational facilities.

“The development of the Lewis & Clark Trail, the sustainable design of Heartwood Pavilion at Hitchcock Nature Center and the enhancement of the Mt. Crescent Ski Area have increased access to high-quality public land and recreational opportunities in the MAPA region,” said Mike Helgerson, MAPA Executive Director.

“The department’s efforts to connect communities with recreational trails have laid a framework for future investments to improve the quality of life of residents and visitors to Pottawattamie County.”

Interviews with both Pottawattamie Conservation Executive Director Jeff Franco and Valley Mayor Cindy Grove are located on MAPA’s YouTube page: youtube.com/@MAPA2222.

MAPA is the regional planning agency serving six counties including Cass, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties in Nebraska, and Mills and Pottawattamie Counties in Iowa. MAPA exists to provide local governments with planning and technical support, thinking regionally and long range on the core issues that impact the vibrancy of the Greater Omaha-Council Bluffs area.