CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa—Alliant Energy named 23 Iowa communities, including Ames, Creston, Mason City and Oelwein, to receive grants totaling over $95,000 through the company’s Community Tree Planting program, part of its One Million Trees initiative.
“Through our Community Tree Planting program, we’re investing in environmental stewardship while helping Iowa communities restore their tree canopies, boost energy efficiency and create lasting environmental benefits for generations to come,” said May Farlinger, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company and vice president of energy delivery operations.
Alliant Energy partners with Trees Forever to help communities develop, select and plant a diverse mix of trees. A tree expert works with the communities to select the best species for their areas and create care and maintenance plans to ensure the new trees have long, healthy lives.
“Our partnership with Alliant Energy has helped to create healthier and more vibrant communities across the state,” said Michelle Beisker, CEO of Trees Forever. “Trees provide so many benefits to individuals and neighborhoods, and the volunteers that show up every year to plant with us and Alliant Energy know this and experience the results directly.”
Since 1990, Trees Forever and Alliant Energy have awarded over $8 million in grants and planted more than 1.1 million trees through their partnership and programs in Iowa and Wisconsin.
Across Iowa, communities are eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000 to fund new trees for planting projects on public land.
Below is a list of the communities awarded grants this year and their project plans. Some communities will begin to plant trees this spring; others will wait until fall.
Iowa Communities:
Albion $2,925, (13 trees)
Ames, $5,000 (35 trees)
Britt, $5,000 (19 trees)
Burlington, $5,000 (50 trees)
Clear Lake, $5,000 (24 trees)
Creston, $5,000, (22 trees)
Decorah, $5,000 (34 trees)
Dyersville, $3,000 (12 trees)
Garwin, $2,000 (21 trees)
George, $1,500 (11 trees)
Jefferson, $5,000 (44 trees)
Keokuk, $5,000 (56 trees)
Manchester, $4,700 (12 trees)
Manly, $2,500 (27 trees)
Marion, $5,000 (150 trees)
Marshalltown, $5,000 (50 trees)
Mason City, $5,000 (66 trees)
Mt. Pleasant, $5,000 (18 trees)
Oelwein, $5,000 (35 trees)
Peosta, $2,760 (8 trees)
Rudd, $2,500 (30 trees)
Washington, $5,000 (47 trees)
West Burlington, $3,750 (25 trees)
To learn more about Alliant Energy’s Community Tree Planting program, visit alliantenergy.com/onemilliontrees.
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