CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – March 28, 2024 – Alliant Energy named 41 Iowa communities, including Clear Lake, Jefferson and Oelwein, to receive grants totaling nearly $145,000 through the company’s Community Tree Planting program, part of its One Million Trees initiative.
“Our commitment to improving the environment and supporting the communities we serve is unwavering,” said May Farlinger, Vice President Customer and Community Engagement, Alliant Energy. “The Community Tree Planting program grants awarded will help these Iowa communities achieve tree restoration goals, improve energy efficiency and provide environmental benefits for generations to come.”
Alliant Energy partners with Trees Forever to help communities develop, select and plant a diverse mix of trees. A tree expert helps communities 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 fueled decades of tree planting projects in communities across the state of Iowa,” said Deb Powers, Trees Forever interim CEO. “Trees provide so many benefits to these towns and that’s reflected in the sustained interest of the volunteer groups to partner with Trees Forever and Alliant Energy.”
Since 1990, Trees Forever and Alliant Energy have awarded over $7.85 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.
Below is a list of the communities awarded grants this year and their project plans. Some communities will begin to plant trees this spring while others will wait until fall.
| organization | City/Town | funding | project description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
City of Alden
|
Alden | $2,606.00 |
Community tree planting in town parks with good tree species mix. Volunteers will include elementary school students. |
|
City of Alta
|
Alta | $4,900.00 |
Community tree planting in the right-of-way with local school student volunteers. |
|
City of Arnolds Park
|
Arnolds Park | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting project in parks and City owned land, led by Team WAVE. |
| City of Ashton | Ashton | $2,500.00 | City-led tree planting in parks and ball diamond with volunteers from throughout the community. |
| City of Atlantic |
Atlantic | $3,000.00 | Community tree planting at the local campground next to camp sites. Local students will volunteer this spring. |
| City of Burlington |
Burlington | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting event led by the city with local volunteers and students. Plantings will be in the rights-of-way throughout town. |
| City of Clear Lake |
Clear Lake | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting project in two city parks led by the Clear Lake Tree Board with high school volunteers. |
| Clinton Trees Forever |
Clinton | $5,000.00 | Arbor Day planting in the right-of-way along North 3rd Street and 7th Avenue South. |
| City of Coggon |
Coggon | $4,990.00 |
City-led tree planting in the right-of-way and the city parks. |
| Creston FFA Chapter |
Creston | $4,950.00 |
Community tree planting led by the local FFA chapter. Locations will be on city property and school locations. |
| City of Drakesville |
Drakesville | $2,610.00 |
Community tree planting project to replace trees in Drakesville City Park. |
| Dubuque Trees Forever |
Dubuque | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting at Four Mounds Park and in right-of-way along Filmore. |
| City of Dyersville |
Dyersville | $5,000.00 | Community Tree Planting led by the Lions Club in Westside Park and Candy Cane Park. |
| City of Dysart |
Dysart | $900.00 | Community tree planting in City Park and Heritage Arboretum with local volunteers. |
| City of Edgewood |
Edgewood | $2,000.00 | Community tree planting on public property for direct energy efficiency. Volunteers will be local students. |
| City of Eldora |
Eldora | $2,410.00 |
Community tree planting at the ballpark being converted to a city park. |
| City of Fairfield |
Fairfield | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting in the right-of-way and at the City Park. |
| City of Fort Atkinson |
Fort Atkinson |
$1,500.00 | Community tree planting at several locations in the City Park with local volunteers. |
| Winneshiek County Conservation Board |
Frankville |
$3,980.00 |
Tree planting in a County Park with volunteers from the Village of Frankville. |
| City of Garwin |
Garwin | $2,000.00 | Community tree planting in two City Parks and the right-of-way with local students and Lions Club volunteers. |
| City of Hayesville |
Hayesville | $1,474.00 | Community tree planting in City Park with local volunteers. |
| City of Huxley |
Huxley | $5,000.00 | Right-of-way planting along Ballard Ave. |
| Jefferson Tree Committee |
Jefferson | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting in the right-of-way along streets in town with local eighth grade volunteers. |
| City of Laurens |
Laurens | $2,500.00 | Community tree planting at the new Laurens Recreational Complex with volunteers from Hometown Pride. |
| City of Letts |
Letts | $2,420.00 |
Community tree planting in Indian Creek Park with students during annual "Day of Caring" volunteer event. |
| Ledges State Park |
Madrid | $3,510.00 |
Tree planting with volunteers at Ledges State Park next to the campground sites. |
| City of Marshalltown |
Marshalltown | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting with volunteers in the rights-of-way. |
| North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) Foundation |
Mason City | $2,500.00 | Tree planting throughout the campus for direct energy efficiency. Staff and students will volunteer. |
| City of Mason City |
Mason City | $2,500.00 | Community tree planting in the right-of-way along 12th Street. Local students will volunteer. |
| City of Maxwell |
Maxwell | $2,500.00 | Trees planted in the right-of-way along Metcalf St. and 3rd St. with student volunteers. |
| City of New Albin |
New Albin | $800.00 | Right-of-way planting with general volunteers. |
| City of Oelwein |
Oelwein | $5,000.00 | Right-of-way planting with United Way volunteers. |
| City of Palo |
Palo | $4,750.00 | Community tree planting will take place in the City Park with volunteers. |
| City of Rolfe |
Rolfe | $3,285.00 |
Community tree planting led by Rolfe Hometown Pride will focus on several rights-of-way and City Parks with student volunteers from the library. |
| Rudd Park Board |
Rudd | $2,500.00 | Community tree planting will replace trees lost to tornado. |
| City of Salem |
Salem | $1,730.00 |
Community tree planting with volunteers at the City Park, fire station and Veteran’s Memorial. |
| City of Sibley |
Sibley | $5,000.00 | Community tree planting at public new housing complex for direct energy efficiency with student volunteers from local schools. |
| Washington Tree Committee |
Washington | $2,500.00 | Community Tree Planting at Wellness Park with volunteers. |
| City of Waucoma |
Waucoma | $4,000.00 | Community tree planting in City Park and ballfield using Turkey Valley FFA student volunteers. |
| City of West Branch | West Branch | $5,000.00 | Right-of-way planting on Earth Day with student volunteers. |
| City of Worthington |
Worthington | $3,500.00 | Community tree planting with volunteers at Veterans Memorial Park to rejuvenate a famous oak stand. |
To learn more about Alliant Energy’s Community Tree Planting program, visit alliantenergy.com/onemilliontrees.
About Trees Forever
Trees Forever is a nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Marion, Iowa. Its mission – to plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community and promoting stewardship – is fulfilled through cutting-edge programs and innovative practices. Trained and experienced staff have assisted community leaders and landowners across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and beyond with thousands of planting projects. Each year, on average, Trees Forever works with and engages more than 7,000 volunteers who give generously of their time and talents. To date, they’ve helped plant more than 3 million trees.
Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 1 million electric and 425,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's mission is to deliver energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) are Alliant Energy's two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index and the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow Alliant Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.