Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) will award three $1,000 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors in 2021 who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university. 

The scholarships are in honor of three pioneers in Keep Iowa Beautiful’s 20-year history:

Bob Byers–Educator.  Through Bob’s leadership, KIB’s Litter-Free School Campus program was started in NW Iowa. His dedication to young people and environmental concerns was a driving force encouraging young people to help improve their community.

William Fultz—KIB Founding Board Member and artist. Bill started an advertising agency that became the largest agricultural advertising agency in the world.

Gerald Schnepf—KIB Founding Executive Director.  Gerry’s career spanned 50 years of making Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family.

The Byers scholarship is supporting high school students who plan to enroll and study environmental science, community development, landscape architecture or architecture (historical emphasis) or community planning and sustainability.

The Schnepf scholarship will be awarded to a senior who has a record of community service and a desire to continue to support and contribute to the enhancement of the place they live and work.  College programs could include community & regional planning and volunteer management.

The Fultz scholarship will be awarded to a senior planning on studying communications, public relations and/or marketing.  

“KIB seeks to foster positive values in younger generations and reinforce them in older generations. We encourage respect for home, neighborhood, community and state,” said Kevin Techau, Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director.

Since the founding of the scholarship program, Keep Iowa Beautiful has awarded $48,000 to 58 students. Applications are due February 12, 2021 with notification in March.

For more information or to apply on-line go to:https://keepiowabeautiful.org/grants-awards/scholarship/

AMES, Iowa – Calamus is one of 10 Iowa communities that have been selected to participate in the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning program in 2021.

The award-winning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape.

The other 2021 visioning communities are Alleman, Conrad, Emmetsburg, Malvern, Princeton, Shenandoah, Tama, Toledo, and Wheatland.

Since 1996, 275 Iowa communities have benefited from the Community Visioning program. To qualify for the program, a community must have a population of fewer than 10,000 residents, existing transportation-related issues and a committee of volunteers willing to dedicate their time and talents to the visioning process.

The Community Visioning program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension and Trees Forever, an Iowa-based nonprofit focused on planting trees and native plants. In addition, professional landscape architects offer expertise in creating conceptual design plans for the communities.

Contacts

Sandra Oberbroeckling, Iowa State University, 515-294-3721, [email protected]

Molly Walkner, Trees Forever, 319-440-7756, [email protected]

AMES, Iowa – Wheatland is one of 10 Iowa communities that have been selected to participate in the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning program in 2021.

The award-winning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape.

The other 2021 visioning communities are Alleman, Calamus, Conrad, Emmetsburg, Malvern, Princeton, Shenandoah, Tama, and Toledo.

Since 1996, 275 Iowa communities have benefited from the Community Visioning program. To qualify for the program, a community must have a population of fewer than 10,000 residents, existing transportation-related issues and a committee of volunteers willing to dedicate their time and talents to the visioning process.

The Community Visioning program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension and Trees Forever, an Iowa-based nonprofit focused on planting trees and native plants. In addition, professional landscape architects offer expertise in creating conceptual design plans for the communities.

Contacts

Sandra Oberbroeckling, Iowa State University, 515-294-3721, [email protected]

Molly Walkner, Trees Forever, 319-440-7756, [email protected]

Keep Iowa Beautiful and Diamond Vogel Paint are announcing the 2021 Paint Iowa Beautiful program.  The program provides free paint to a wide variety of community projects throughout Iowa. Administered through Keep Iowa Beautiful with the paint provided by the Diamond Vogel Paint Company.

“The partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful allows Diamond Vogel to assist and work with many local volunteers that help build communities, making Iowa the number one state in the nation to live,” said Doug Vogel, Vice President, Marketing, of the Iowa based company.  This is a great opportunity for Iowans to improve the attractiveness and beautiful of their community.”

Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful added, “The Paint Iowa Beautiful program helps increase our assistance to communities, neighborhoods, historic projects and volunteer organizations improve attractiveness and beauty across Iowa.”  

In the 18-year partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful, Diamond Vogel has awarded over 11,165 gallons of paint for 1,000 community projects in Iowa.

The online grant application is now open to Iowans and can be completed and submitted by February 15, 2021.  Access the Paint Iowa Beautiful application here.

About Diamond Vogel

Diamond Vogel is an Iowa based, family owned company started in 1926 by Andrew Vogel.  It serves 13 states with seven manufacturing facilities and  53 service center outlets providing Architectural Finishes, Industrial and Original Equipment Finishes and Home Decorating Products.  www.diamondvogel.com  

In the year 2000, former Governor Robert Ray and Founder and Chairman of Casey’s General Stores Donald Lamberti finalized their plans to create a state-wide organization that would assist Iowa communities in making the state a better place to live, work and raise a family.  Born was KEEP IOWA BEAUTIFUL, the 23^rd state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. 

“In celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the founding, KIB has created an expanded photo contest with a pot of cash awards of over $2,000,” said Kevin Techau, KIB Executive Director.  

“This is a great way for Iowans to share what they like about Iowa,” added Techau.  “There are five categories to enter your favorite photo of what makes you proud to be an Iowan and captures the beauty and spirit of Iowa.”

The two-phase contest begins now with entry deadline on December 18, 2020. Each of the five categories will be awarded 1^st place: $100, 2^nd place: $75, and 3^rd place: $50.  

January 18-31, 2021,  the five first-place winners will be on KIB social media for voting and selecting the Social Media Favorite.  The winner will receive an additional $100.  At that time the Robert D. Ray Best of Show Awards will be announced.  1^st place: $500, 2^nd place: $250 and 3^rd place: $100.

Randi (Ray) Watson, Robert and Billie Ray’s eldest daughter, has agreed to serve on a panel of judges.  “One of my Dad’s favorite hobbies was photography,” said Randi.  “During his 14 years as governor, he and my Mother traveled to many places around the world and he usually had a camera hanging around his neck.”  Randi added, “Dad was so proud of Iowans and their efforts to make Iowa a great place to live.”

The five categories are:

• Iowa Landscape
  Capture Iowa’s beauty through depictions of Iowa’s landscape, including but not limited to: farm fields, rolling hills, and wooded forests.
• Iowa Water
  Feature Iowa’s beautiful water systems with depictions of Iowa rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.
• Iowa Cities
  Iowa’s urban centers are hubs of history, culture, and beauty. This category features depictions of Iowa’s cities, street scenes, and urban landmarks.
• Iowans in Action
  This category aims to capture the spirit of Iowa through depictions of the people that live, work, and play in Iowa.  All means of action that can be captured: biking, running, fishing, hunting and hiking are but a few. 
• Iowa Wildlife
  Iowa is home to a variety of beautiful critters. This category aims to showcase Iowa’s beauty through depictions of Iowa’s wildlife animals: mammals, fish, birds, bugs and more!

Contest rules and entry guidelines are on KIB’s website.  www.keepiowabeautiful.com