March 17, 2005
For more information contact:
Kathy Ridnour
515-239-1713
Keep Iowa Beautiful program funds awarded to four central Iowa groups
AMES, Iowa According to Iowa Department of Transportation officials, the Marshalltown Central Business District, Iowa Recycling Association in Des Moines, Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, and Kiwanis Clubs of Ames were among 17 Iowa communities or nonprofit organizations awarded funds from the Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) program.
Funding for this program is generated through Iowa's state income tax check-off. This is the second year of funding for the program. During the 2003 tax year $67,423 in check-off funding was received. Approximately 70 percent of those funds are allocated to local beautification efforts and 30 percent to KIB's statewide initiatives.
The following grant amounts were awarded: Marshalltown Central Business District, $5,000; Iowa Recycling Association in Des Moines, $3,500; Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, $4,949; and Kiwanis Clubs of Ames, $5,000.
DOT Program Administrator Kathy Ridnour said, The Keep Iowa Beautiful initiative has received generous support from Iowa taxpayers over the past three years. As projects are completed, it becomes clear these generous contributions provide significant returns on the initial investment.
Projects funded from the 2003 tax check-off are:
- Kiwanis Clubs of Ames;
- City of Cleghorn;
- Cleghorn Lions Club;
- River Action, Inc. (Davenport);
- Keep Scott County Beautiful;
- Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department;
- Iowa Recycling Association (Des Moines);
- Fairfield Beautification Commission;
- Spalding Catholic Middle/High School (Granville);
- Greenfield Chamber of Commerce/Main Street;
Guttenberg River Front Development Task Force; - Lansing Lions Club;
- Linn Grove Wonders of Nature;
- Long Grove Park Board;
- Marshalltown Central Business District;
- Mount Pleasant Treatment Center; and
- Statewide Keep Iowa Beautiful.
Local applicants received $47,196 in funding to implement community projects related to litter removal, litter prevention, beautification, waste management or recycling, illegal dumping abatement, and public nuisance abatement. The remaining $20,227 will be used for statewide efforts.
The next deadline for submittal of applications is Dec. 31, 2005. Project application forms are available online at www.dot.state.ia.us/forms.
Keep Iowa Beautiful is a nonprofit charitable organization. It is the 22nd state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, which has nearly 500 local affiliates. Keep America Beautiful has been working for 46 years to improve the beauty of our nation.
For more information on Keep Iowa Beautiful, including volunteer opportunities; research, education, public awareness, and beautification initiatives; and efforts towards keeping Iowa litter free --- visit the organization's Web site at keepiowabeautiful.com or contact Executive Director Gerald F. Schnepf at 515-323-6507.
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