Iowa Department of Transportation

March 19, 2008

Contact:
Gerald F. Schnepf
515-323-6507

Keep Iowa Beautiful program funds awarded

AMES , Iowa – March 19, 2008 – According to Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) officials, nine Iowa communities or nonprofit organizations have been awarded funds from the Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) program.

Funding for this program is generated through Iowa 's state income tax check-off. This is the fifth year of funding for the program. Applications totaling $91,000 were received, but check-off contributions during the 2006 tax year totaled only $27,468. Approximately 70 percent of the check-off contribution funds are allocated to local beautification efforts and 30 percent to KIB's statewide initiatives.

Iowa DOT Program Administrator Kathy Ridnour said, “In the five years since the tax check-off began for Keep Iowa Beautiful projects, Iowans have given generously and are now seeing their contributions make a real and lasting impact in many Iowa communities. The Iowa DOT is proud to be part of the Keep Iowa Beautiful effort.”

Projects funded from this round of funding are:

City of Wellman – $5,000
Partners for Conservation ( Burlington ) – $1,500
AMVC Cares ( Audubon County ) – $2,500
Greenfield Chamber/Main Street – $900
Hamilton County Agricultural Extension District – $642
City of Burlington - CUB Project – $1,450
City of Mason City – $3,938
Marshalltown Central Business District – $1,500
Keep Iowa State Beautiful – $1,798

Local applicants received $19,228 in funding to implement community projects related to litter removal, litter prevention, beautification, waste management or recycling, illegal dumping abatement, and public nuisance abatement. The remaining $8,240 will be used for statewide efforts.

The next deadline for submittal of applications is Dec. 31, 2008. Project application forms are available online at http://www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/keepiabeautiful.htm .

KIB is a nonprofit charitable organization. It is the 22nd state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, which has nearly 500 local affiliates. Keep America Beautiful has been working for 48 years to improve the beauty of our nation.

For more information on KIB, including volunteer opportunities; research, education, public awareness, and beautification initiatives; and efforts towards keeping Iowa litter free, visit the organization's Web site at keepiowabeautiful.com or contact Executive Director Gerald F. Schnepf at 515-323-6507.

News Release