Mason City and Clear Lake among Iowa towns receiving funds to plant trees

CEDAR RAPIDS – Alliant Energy named 41 Iowa communities, including Mason City, Clear Lake, Rolfe and Oelwein, to receive grants totaling nearly $145,000 through the company’s Community Tree Planting program.

Published on March 30, 2024
by NIT Publisher

“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.