• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Human Interest / Keep Iowa Beautiful funds awarded

Keep Iowa Beautiful funds awarded

March 2, 2009 By admin

Recently, the Iowa Department of Transportation awarded more than $20,000 to nine communities or organizations to help with beautification projects. The money comes from the Keep Iowa Beautiful program and executive director Gerry (Jerry) Schnepf says it should make a lasting impact on the towns.

The awarded funds will finance riverfront, street, and park improvements and help efforts to boost recycling. This is the sixth and final year of funding for the program. Schnepf says a state income tax check-off financed the program, but that check-off was not renewed by the legislature.

"The nice part about this – this was Iowans supporting themselves," Schnepf said. "They were checking off to make sure that those funds could come back to improve and enhance communities. I would hope at some point we would find another source (of funding) to award small grants." Schnepf says litter control and beautification efforts can do wonders for economic development. He says Iowa cities and towns only have one shot at making a good first impression to new visitors.

"When you come to a community or neighborhood, you make your judgement in that first 30 seconds," Schnepf said. "So, that’s why it’s important…to attract residents, business and tourism."

The final round of Keep Iowa Beautiful funding will benefit the following towns and organizations: Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce ($2,500), Greenfield Chamber/Main Street ($2,800), Hamilton County Agricultural Extension District ($850), Iowa Whitewater Coalition Inc. ($2,000), City of Kellogg ($2,500), Red Oak Optimist Club and Rotary Club ($2,812), River Action Inc. ($2,500), City of Sioux City ($3,000), and Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District ($1,696).

Another $8,852 will be used for statewide efforts. Schnepf says, despite the loss in funding through the tax check-off, the Keep Iowa Beautiful statewide program will continue to operate.

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Human Interest Tagged With: Department of Transportation

Featured Stories

Governor signs child care expansion into law

Iowa seniors have until July 1 to apply for new property tax break

Smoke from distant fires creates colorful sunrise in Iowa

DOT’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division to merge into State Patrol

Iowa’s governor approves liability limits for trucking industry

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/29/23

Iowa AD Gary Barta announces retirement

Iowa to visit Creighton in Gavitt Tipoff Games

Iowa and Indiana collide Thursday at B1G baseball tournament

Former Hawkeye joins Lisa Bluder’s staff at Iowa

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC