Oct. 14, 2004

For more information contact:
Kathy Ridnour
515-239-1713

 Keep Iowa Beautiful project funding applications available  

AMES, Iowa – Applications are currently being accepted for Keep Iowa Beautiful projects. The annual application deadline for funding is Dec. 31. Projects are funded on a grant basis and no matching funds are required. However, the higher degree of match, the more likely a project will be approved. 

The primary criteria for determining funding priorities is the anticipated long-term effectiveness of a project to clean up or prevent litter, improve waste management or recycling efforts, beautify a site, prevent illegal dumping or eliminate public nuisances.  

The following projects received a total of $43,677 during the last funding cycle: Carlisle Garden Club; Downtown Partners Sioux City; city of Dows; Friends of Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls); Guttenberg River Front Development Task Force; Harris-Lake Park Community School; Iowa Recycling Association; Jackson Elementary School PTA & Athletic Club (Davenport); Keep Fort Dodge Beautiful; city of Linn Grove; Long Grove Park Board; Marshalltown Central Business District; North End Partnership (Mason City); Orange City Parks Department; city of Orient; Randall Community Club; Shenandoah Community School; and Williams Intermediate School (Davenport).The statewide Keep Iowa Beautiful program received $19,106.

The Iowa Legislature passed tax check-off legislation to provide funds for litter prevention, waste management and recycling, and beautification projects; and the Iowa Department of Transportation established rules for disbursing the funds.  

Approximately 70 percent of the moneys appropriated to the department through the check-off are allocated to community projects. The remaining funds are allocated to the Keep Iowa Beautiful organization for statewide efforts.

Applications for Keep Iowa Beautiful grants may be obtained on the DOT's Web site www.dot.state.ia.us/forms/index.htm or by calling Kathy Ridnour at 515-239-1713. A copy can also be found on the Keep Iowa Beautiful Web site at keepiowabeautiful.com.

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