Branching Out

Through Branching Out, your community can work together with Alliant Energy and Trees Forever to fund and implement tree-planting projects.

Celebrating more than two decades of plantings, Branching Out encourages energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and community stewardship in Iowa.

Planting trees provides more shade and cools the air, helping to lower energy costs and reduce peak electric demand.
The trees planted represent an energy savings of over 14 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). That’s the equivalent of removing 7,800 vehicles from Iowa roads each year.
Branching Out also helps diversify the tree population, which limits the negative impacts of pests like the Emerald Ash Borer. A diverse urban forest is the best way to ensure resiliency when faced with tree diseases and pests.
See our list of recommended tree species.

Eligibility

Branching Out is offered exclusively to Iowa communities where Alliant Energy provides electric and/or natural gas service. We provide grants of up to $5,000 per community for community-based, tree-planting projects like schools, libraries and community buildings and streets.

Trees Forever administers and facilitates the program, providing educational and planning support.

How to apply

Online application (save a tree!) Fill out the online application form on the Trees Forever website.
Paper application. Download and complete the paper application form.pdf. Mail it, along with the documentation it requests, to:

Trees Forever
c/o Branching Out
770 7th Avenue
Marion, Iowa 52302

Grant cycles and deadlines

Grants are awarded once per year. You can submit your application at any time, however, and we’ll hold onto it until the grant cycle opens.

Grant Cycle	Application deadline	grants announced	funding awarded
Spring and Fall plantings	November 1	April 15	May 1 - 31

2018 Fall Branching Out projects

community	Money awarded	planting site location
Amana	$2,500	Project and tree planting is planned with and for the Amana Colonies, a National Historic Landmark around the Amana Woolen Mill renovation project.
Burlington	$5,500	Burlington's Trees Forever group is planning to plant in large open parking within the right-of-ways as well as areas of town that are void of trees which will provide large open canopies. Burlington has been hit especially hard with EAB.
Calmar	$1,483	The tree planting project is for the southeast side of the Calmar NICC Campus.
Cedar Rapids	$3,500	Street tree planting is planned in Cedar Rapids for the 800 block of Oakland Rd NE.
Cedar Rapids	$3,500	The project is street trees for the Deerstone subdivision, on the city's SW side.
Cedar Rapids	$3,500	The tree planting site is Victoria Street SW, for the planting of street trees.
Cedar Rapids	$2,500	This tree planting project is for replacing dead trees and adding trees at two sites, Glass Road Booster Station and City Services Center
Clinton	$4,219	Clinton Trees Forever would like to plant forty new trees within five public parks - Chancy, Eagle Point, Four Square, Hawthorne and Rainbow Parks respectively.
Creston	$9,000	Projects are High Lakes Outdoor Alliance Shooting Range, Crest Ridge Estates - Greater Regional Hospital, and Walking Trail & McKinley Park complexes.
Decorah	$3,000	The City of Decorah, is working to address the infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Residents will be offered a variety of trees to pickup, plant and care for within the Boulevard of their homes and neighborhoods.
Dubuque	$6,220	Project is planting 150 trees on the Clarke University Campus during the 'Into the Streets' Day.
Dyersville	$2,775	Planting new trees at the Dyersville Commercial Club.
Frankville	$1,066	Tree planting is planned at the Frankville Community Presbyterian Church on the north side of the church building.
George	$3,310	A second phase of planting is planned for the west end of the 22 acre Industrial Park for community growth and expansion.
Hiawatha	$2,025	Tree planting on Boyson Road, at the water tower.
Iowa Falls	$5,000	Project is a windbreak for the Track & Field Complex at Iowa Falls/Alden High School.
Laurens	$1,504	Planned project is for Laurens local parks and cemetery.
Letts	$1,959.96	Tree plantings planned are the school, also north & south entrances into Letts.
Marion	$7,190	September 2018 tree planting project is the continued phase of Tower Terrace roadway through Marion.
Marshalltown	$3,660	Project planned is Hughes Grove Historic District neighborhood, between 3rd and 9th Streets and north of Main Street. Marshalltown also suffered a catastrophic tornado on July 19th, 2018, additional areas will be looked at for plantings.
Mason City	$5,000	Planned planting event proposes tree planting species in Lester Milligan Park along the trails and within City right-of-way areas.
Mechanicsville	$500	Replacing EAB removed trees throughout the community.
Mount Vernon	$4,085	Planned project is planting throughout the Community School District.
Oelwein	$1,019.20	This fall planting will be phase two of Oelwein's apple orchard in Wings Park.
Ottumwa	$1,800	Tree planting will be with Ottumwa Community School District at the new Pickwick Early Childhood Center to open in August, that is the site of the old elementary school.
Rolfe	$1,710	Tree planting project will be several ROW locations throughout town and in our parks and golf course.
Sigourney	$8,000	Project is with Keokuk County Master Gardeners & Keokuk County Expo Fair Board. Planned project is replacing ash trees at the fairgrounds due to EAB.
Springbrook	$1,475	Tree planting will be at the city park, city hall and fire station.
State Center	$3,000	Project will be replacing EAB hit areas & areas that are lacking in trees, they are as follows, 3rd Street NW and 2 blocks south intersecting with Hwy 234.
Volga	$1,000	Planting at Volga Campground/Recreational area.
Walcott	$8,000	Planned project is a recreational trail area in the heart of Walcott. This includes, a pond/wetland area in the park that will benefit from water quality, wildlife, and added shade to the trail and gazebo.
Washington	$2,436	Planned projects are Sunset Park, North Park that is adjacent to Stuart Elementary School, Triangle Park, and Water Tower Park.
West Branch	$5,000	Planned planting will be around the new sports complex, includes many amenities. This will provide shade, wind protection, wildlife habitat, water quality/stream-bank restoration and more.
West Burlington	$4,598	Southeastern Community College is planning to plant along the eastern side of the campus, along Gear Avenue, and along College/Wittkamp Drive.

Questions?

Trees Forever staff members are available to help you complete applications, develop a planting project, and plan a planting event.

1-800-369-1269, ext. 110

“Trees Forever has for years partnered with the City of Clinton in our projects which have enhanced our way of life in one way or another. Thanks to Trees Forever and Alliant Energy for doing what you do best: making Clinton more beautiful.”

LaMetta K. Wynn, Mayor, City of Clinton

“Every Branching Out project focuses on long-term tree care with a special emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation. We are pleased to continue a long-term partnership with Alliant Energy in a combined effort to educate Iowans on the importance of trees, and improve our environment one community at a time.”

Shannon Ramsay, president and CEO of Trees Forever

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