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.

Eligibility

Branching Out is offered exclusively to Iowa communities where Alliant Energy provides electric and/or natural gas service. The utility provides grants of $1000 to $10,000 for community-based, tree-planting projects - like schools, libraries, community buildings, streets and more.

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. The form resets after a few hours and can’t be saved. Please look over what it asks for in advance, and get those materials ready to go before you start. We recommend typing your answers into a document ahead of time, so you can just copy and paste them into the online form.
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 two times per year, to coincide with the spring and fall planting seasons.

Proposal letters and applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year, but are considered only in the next grant-making cycle (spring or fall). Your community may apply and receive funding for multiple projects in a single grant cycle.

Grant cycle	request deadline	grants announced	funding awarded
Spring	November 1	January 15	March 1-31
Fall	June 1	August 15	September 1-30

2018 Spring Branching Out projects

community	Money awarded	planting site location
Atlantic	$3,030	Schildberg Quarry City Park
Blairstown	$1,300	Along streets in residential areas and the park
Burlington	$4,457	Along streets in Burlington
Calmar	$1,580	Northeast Iowa Community College
Cedar Rapids	$4,250	Along the streets in Bowman Lane Neighborhood
Cedar Rapids	$5,213	Along the street in Cedar Rapids’ Woodborough neighborhood
Cherokee	$6,622	Koser-Spring Lake Park, Gillette Park and Central Park
Cresco	$3,500	Along streets in Cresco
Creston	$9,900	Greater Regional Hospital, Harmony Cemetery, Southwestern Iowa Community College, High Lakes shooting range, middle and elementary schools
Dysart	$1,000	Trail, arboretum, school and park in Dysart
Eddyville	$3,000	Central Park, Frog Pond Recreation Area, Merino Avenue and the cemetery
Eldora	$1,184	First Baptist Church property on Highway 175
Eldora	$1,489	Along Washington Street
Ely	$1,745	City park and walking trail
Fairfield	$4,316	North entrance to the community along Highway 1
Garner	$3,853	Along the 3rd Street entrance into town
Greenfield	$1,600	East Elementary school, Adair County Health and Fitness Center and Purdy sports complex, Greenfield Manor, along streets
Hiawatha	$1,650	Tucker Park and Guthridge Park
Hubbard	$1,000	Along streets in residential area, low-income housing and Hubbard care center
Jefferson	$2,500	Madison Street and Perry Street
Keokuk	$2,440	High school class service learning project at Rand Park
Keosauqua	$9,500	Ferguson Sports Complex
Laurens	$2,665	Park and cemetery
Lisbon	$2,520	Along street near a historical home and new senior housing development
Marble Rock/Floyd Co Conservation	$5,045	Ackley Creek Park
Marion	$7,075	Along streets at 35th Street extension
Marshalltown	$3,765	Three city parks in Marshalltown - MEGA-10, Timber Creek and Riverview
Mason City	$10,000	Along South Monroe, South Madison, 2nd St. SW, 3rd St. SW and 4th St. SW in the SW part of downtown Mason City
Moravia	$1,089	City Park and Trussel Park
Muscatine	$7,000	Community Dog Park and Westside Trail
Muscatine	$10,000	Cedar Street, Mulberry Road and downtown business district
New Albin	$1,500	Along streets in New Albin
Oelwein	$4,000	Windbreak on north side of Veterans Sports Complex
Rudd	$2,240	Trail and camping areas of Rudd Lake Park
Storm Lake	$4,500	New park at 10th Street and Ontario Street, park at Russell Street and 5th Street, and golf course
Washington	$2,800	Kewash Nature Trail entrance
Waukon	$1,500	Along streets and playground area in the City Park
West Branch	$9,575	Along streets in new housing developments

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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