News Release

Keep Iowa Beautiful project funding applications available

AMES, Iowa – Applications are currently being accepted for Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) projects, which are administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). The annual application deadline for funding is Dec. 31. Projects are funded on a grant basis with no matching funds required.

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 local projects received a total of $40,599 during the last funding cycle:   Iowa Whitewater Coalition; Inc. (West Des Moines); Marshalltown Central Business District; Guttenberg Riverfront Development; city of Hawarden; Greenfield Chamber/Main Street; Bralks Haven, Inc. (Council Bluffs); Treynor Optimist Club; Partners for Conservation (Burlington); West High School Student Council (Sioux City); Siouxland Historical Railroad Association; Long Grove Park Board; Operation Downtown (Des Moines); Iowa Recycling Association; Cleghorn Area Senior Citizens; city of West Point; Iowa City - Project Green; Sioux Trails Girl Scouts (Sioux City); city of Correctionville; and the Shenandoah Community School District. Statewide KIB projects received $17,461 in this funding cycle.

The Iowa General Assembly passed tax check-off legislation to provide funds for litter prevention, waste management and recycling, and beautification projects. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) established rules for disbursing the funds. Approximately 70 percent of the funds appropriated to the Iowa DOT 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 at www.keepiowabeautiful.com/KIBapplication.pdf , on the DOT's Web site www.dot.state.ia.us/forms/index.htm , or by calling Kathy Ridnour at 515-239-1713.

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