Grants
Photographer: Justin Rogers of West Des Moines, IA
Paint Iowa Beautiful
Through a partnership with Diamond Vogel Paint of Orange City, Iowa communities can receive paint for a variety of community enhancement projects.
Keeping up the appearance of our buildings, facilities and parks is an important component of viable communities. Well-maintained and painted buildings reflect pride in our communities. Thousands of gallons of paint have been donated to community groups through the Paint Iowa Beautiful program.
The longstanding partnership between Keep Iowa Beautiful and Diamond Vogel provides free paint to a wide variety of public service and community betterment projects throughout Iowa.
“Diamond Vogel is thrilled to work with many local volunteers that help build communities and enhance their communities’ economic vitality,” said Doug Vogel, Vice-President of Marketing for the Iowa-based company. “Passionate volunteers like those engaged in Paint Iowa Beautiful make Iowa a great place to live.”
In its 20-year partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful, Diamond Vogel has awarded enough paint to cover over five million square feet of surfaces for 1,438 community projects in Iowa.
“Keep Iowa Beautiful is honored to continue our partnership with Diamond Vogel to award paint to these community betterment projects,” said Andy Frantz, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “We were thrilled to see the number of quality applications submitted by Iowans working to make their state a more beautiful place to live, work and play.”
The 2025 grant application is now open. The application form is below.
Application deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025.
Before you begin, click below to read the program guidelines:
Paint Iowa Beautiful Program Guidelines and FAQs
Who is eligible to apply? Nonprofit, public and private entities are eligible to apply.
What projects are eligible? Projects that keep up the appearance of public facing buildings, facilities and parks in Iowa communities are eligible for this program.
If approved, what products are included? Recipients may purchase any Diamond Vogel coating (paint, stain, primer) from a local Diamond Vogel Paint Store or Dealer.
What are the dates of this program? The application is open from November 2024 through February 14, 2025. Grant awardees will be notified by April 2025. Paint/coating must be purchased and used by the end of the year it was awarded, and reimbursement must be submitted during that timeframe. For the 2025 grant cycle, reimbursement requests are due by December 31, 2025.
How does reimbursement work? Recipients must provide their receipt(s) from a Diamond Vogel Paint Store or Dealer for their purchase. The project must be completed before reimbursement is requested. Reimbursement requests must include the receipt as well as a picture of the completed project. Reimbursement covers the pre-tax amount. In the event the recipient purchases more paint/coating than they were approved for, reimbursement will only cover their approved amount. Paint/coating must be purchased and used by the end of the year it was awarded.
How do I apply? Click here to apply for the Paint Iowa Beautiful program! Applications are due by February 14, 2025.
How many gallons are typically awarded per grant? In 2024 the average grant award was for 6 gallons and most awards ranged between 5-10 gallons.
Grant application tips:
- Large-volume requests (over 30 gallons) will generally receive a lower rating.
- Projects that have a high community value will be rated higher.
- Projects involving volunteers will be rated higher.
- Programs assisting the disadvantaged will be rated higher.
- Projects with youth involvement will be rated higher.
- Government agencies will generally not receive as high of ratings as nonprofits and service clubs, except where volunteer, disadvantaged or youth involvement is strong.
- Partnership projects (government with nonprofits or service clubs) will be rated higher.
- Awarded grants are applicable only the calendar year in which the award is granted. There is no carryover to the next year. Those not using their allocation or award must reapply for the next year.
2024 Grant Recipients:
2024 Paint Awards
| COMMUNITY | ORGANIZATION NAME | LIST AREAS TO BE PAINTED |
| Albia | Carnegie-Evans Public Library | Interior of Library |
| Allamakee County | Iowa Barn Foundation | Historic agricultural barn on Marzen Farm. |
| Alton | Alton Public Library | Main floor of library |
| Asbury | City of Asbury | Pavilions in Asbury Park |
| Baxter | City of Baxter | Fire hydrants, crosswalks, parking stalls, and manhole lids |
| Baxter-Jasper County | Growing Greatness Learning Center | Exterior |
| Bellevue | Friends of Bellevue State Park | Four outdoor pavilions, two at Nelson Unit and two at the Dyas Unit; Equipment work shed at the Dyas Unit |
| Bennett | Bennett Community Club | Main Street planters |
| Benton County | Benton County Conservation | Nature Center Deck; Lake Docs; Sign/Post Touch-up |
| Black Hawk County | Bennington #4 School | Complete scrape and repaint of the two outhouses |
| Buchanan County | Buchanan County Tourism Bureau | Windows, some storm windows, and storm door |
| Buena Vista County | Hanover Historical Society of Iowa | Feed Shed and Blacksmith Shop |
| Burlington | Downtown Partners | Cement flower pots throughout Downtown area |
| Carson | Carson Community Rodeo | Rodeo Arena Fencing |
| Charles City | Charles City Public Library | Mooney Art Gallery and Meeting Room |
| Charter Oak | City of Charter Oak | City park bathrooms and city park shelter house |
| City of Asbury | City of Asbury | Pavilions in Asbury Park |
| Cedar Rapids | City of Cedar Rapids, Old MacDonald’s Farm | Farm barn and outbuildings |
| Cedar Rapids | The District: Czech Village & New Bohemia | Two very visible sides of an old drab 14ft high building in a block being spruced up — 101 ft long and 71 ft long. |
| Center Point | City of Center Point – Parks & Recreation Dept. | Community Center |
| Chariton | Humane Society of Lucas County | Building exterior (metal building) |
| Charles City | Charles City Public Library | Mooney Art Gallery |
| Charter Oak | City of Charter Oak | Park bathrooms, city park shelter house, arboretum bridge and gazebo |
| Clermont | European Rural Heritage Institute dba Heritage Farm Park | Museum area in park |
| Clinton | Vince Jetter Community Center | Painting walls of entryways, stairwells, main room, downstairs and kitchen |
| Dallas County | City of Linden | City Hall/Library; Playground equipment in the city park; city curbs; fire hydrants; shelter in the park |
| Danbury | City of Danbury | Old Shelter House |
| Davis County | Mutchler Community Center | Outdoor Balcony Railing; Outdoor Fire Exit Staircase; Weight Room; Gym |
| Decorah | Senior Citizen Hospitality Center | Exterior South and West (front) Walls |
| Dubuque | Operation Empower | Hallways for three floors, large great room, TV room. |
| Dubuque | Centrally Rooted | Outdoor space for classes |
| Dubuque County | Dubuque County Conservation Society | Signage for various locations |
| Dunkerton | Dunkerton Historical and Tourism Assocation | One-room school house: Barclay #3; One-room school house: Bennington #1; Chapel; Depot |
| Dunlap | City of Dunlap | Shelter Houses at Both Parks and the Public Swimming Pool Floor/Walls |
| Dunlap Harrison County | Saved By Grace Church of Dunlap | Church spiers x8, windows x17, decorative windows x3, door trim x4, entries x2, facia and trim, wooden railings x2, cement steps x3 |
| Durant | Gloria Dei Lutheran Church | The interior of the church and fellowship hall. |
| Dyersville | James Kennedy Public Library | Interior of the library |
| Eldon | Wapello County Fair, Inc. | Wooden Grandstand; Wapello Hall Pavilion and bleachers |
| Eldora | Eldora Aquatic Center | 5 doors and trim around them; Floor in the concession stand |
| Elk Run Heights | City of Elk Run Heights | City Hall & Community Room, Park Department Building, Vehicle Garage, Salt Bin, Sand & Salt mix Bin |
| Elkader | Volunteers to Preserve Floral Hall | Elkader Floral Hall / Elkader Park Shelter; Built in 1899 as a Floral Hall for the Elkader Fair, currently City Park Shelter House |
| Elma | City of Elma-Park Board | Grandstand seating and park shelters |
| Emerson | City of Emerson | Ball cage area in Evans Park |
| Essex | Essex Community Club | Interior and exterior of a large bandstand |
| Everly | Hap Ketelsen Community Center | The large reception area, the meeting room and the kitchen of the community center. |
| Floris | Floris park improvement project | Floris park shelter, park cook shack, new restrooms, lines on new basketball court, community hall building inside and out |
| Glenwood | Mills County Historical Museum | Historic One Room Schoolhouse |
| Goodell | Goodell Volunteer Fire Department | Fire Station |
| Graettinger | City of Graettinger | Graettinger City Pool Shelter |
| Grinnell | Ahrens Park Foundation | Grinnell Athletic and Recreational Center, Soccer Concession and Restrooms, and Ahrens Park Foundation Building. |
| Halbur | Halbur Development Corporation | Halbur Community Center |
| Hamburg | Hamburg Booster Club, Inc | Building at City Ball Park – Clayton Field |
| Harcourt | Harcourt Public Library | City Hall back wall; Front, side, and back walls of Harcourt Public Library |
| Harlan | American Legion | Main area of the inside of building, plus the bathroom |
| Harpers Ferry | Friends of Yellow River State Forest | Technician’s office, entry signs, 21 rest rooms(outhouses), 4 informational/sign-in gazeboes, 135 numbered marker posts at campsites |
| Harpers Ferry | Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society | The Oil Springs School Museum is peeling and needs to be painted, especially the front entrance, front/south side and sides (East & West). It is painted white paint and we want to keep it white as it was in it’s original state |
| Harrison County | Harrison County Conservation Board | Exterior of original schoolhouse |
| Hawarden | Hawarden Historical Society | Calliope Village – McNally Veterans Museum (front & touch-up as needed on other sides); Calliope Village – Shoemaker/Wasser Museum (front & touch-up as needed on other sides) |
| Ida County | Ida County Agricultural Society, Inc. | The House at 225 N. Gilbert and 229 N. Gilbert St. |
| Iowa City | Public Space One | gazebo in the arboretum and building on Main Street |
| Iowa City | Iowa City Free Medical Clinic | Total renovation of facility including exam rooms, dental operatories, administrative offices and a waiting room. |
| Iowa County | Iowa County Historical Society | The interior of the Gritter Creek School, a historic one room school. |
| Iowa Falls | CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) | 703 Bliss Ave & 503 College Ave – Iowa Falls |
| Keokuk | Great River Players | Base of exterior wall along Johnson Street. |
| Keosauqua | Engage Keosauqua, Inc. | Pocket Park side of Van Buren Telephone Company building in downtown Keosauqua |
| Knoxville | Inside Out Wellness and Advocacy | Painting of full exterior structure located at 104 South 6th St. Knoxville 50138 |
| Lake Mills | Lake Mills Area Historical Society | 1901 Victorian House exterior; 3 stories, with veranda porch |
| Le Mars | Plymouth County Fair | Buildings located on the Plymouth County Fair Grounds: Century Hall (exterior – green portion only); Sportsmans, located in the Pioneer Village (exterior); The 4-H/FFA Sheep Barn (exterior); Hospitality Building (exterior and interior) |
| Leon | Leon Chamber of Commerce | One crosswalk on the West side of the Leon Square. |
| Lone Rock | BLAKJER-LONE ROCK PRESERVATION CORP | 1899 Historical Depot – Outside, Trim windows and doors |
| Lone Tree | Lone Tree Community Foundation | ABC Park equipment, tables, new planks; Senior Dining entrance; Tables at North Park; Small Pavilion at North Park; Two Pavilions at Dougherty Park; Tables at Dougherty Park; Swingsets at South Park; Designated Trash Bin areas |
| Madison County | Madison County Chamber of Commerce | Holliwell Covered Bridge; Cedar Covered Bridge; Hogback Covered Bridge; Imes Covered Bridge; Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge; Roseman Covered Bridge |
| Mahaska County | Southern Iowa Fairgrounds | Sheep Barn |
| Mapleton | Mapleton Rotary Club | 31 fire hydrants |
| Maquoketa | City of Maquoketa | All city park pavilions (7); park playgrounds (3) |
| Maxwell | Maxwell Parks and Open Spaces Board | Exterior and interior of “church stand” shelter at the Maxwell City Park |
| Melrose | City of Melrose & Melrose Community Betterment | Melrose CABOOSE–Interior and Exterior |
| Millersburg | City of Millersburg | Gymnasium exterior, library steel roof, old school sign |
| Mingo | City of MIngo | Complete exterior of building including roof |
| Mitchell | CST-South Square | The painted areas around all the outside windows |
| Montezuma | Montezuma Community Development | Montezuma West City Park |
| Monticello | Troop 66 | Panels on an exterior wall to create a mural |
| Montrose | Montrose Riverfront, Inc. | Interior of Hunold Heritage Center museum |
| Moravia | MBC | Concession stand and restrooms, shelter. |
| Morning Sun | Morning Sun Hometown Pride (LCHTP) | 12 large picnic tables; Shelter house wooded areas that need repainted; Polyurethane to protect new bathroom stalls inside shelter house. |
| Muscatine | Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine | The Arch, 701 Orange St, Muscatine, IA 52761 |
| Nevada | Camelot Theater Foundation | 2 one-bedroom apartments above the theater–ceilings, walls, and stairwell |
| New Albin | City of New Albin | Steeple of City museum |
| New Hartford | New Hartford Economic Development Corp. | 1) Mural on Main St 2) Overhead door at 709 Main St J & S Properties 3) Overhead doors at 711 Main St City Storage 4) Arch at 4 seasons City Garden at Main & Church Sts 5) Bicycle at City Family Activity Park at Maple & Water Sts 6) 318 Maple St residence 7) 814 Main St residence 8) 502 Packwaukee St trim & doors at Eden Plumbing |
| New Market | City of New Market | Public Library gable ends, fascia, and trim; City Park restrooms and privacy screen; Miner Pavilion trim work and rear restroom entrances; Curb markings and parking spots on Main Street |
| New Sharon | City of New Sharon | East End Park New Sharon |
| Oelwein | City of Oelwein | Oelwein City Park / Campground Picnic Tables |
| Onawa | Onawa Kiwanis Foundation | CNW Caboose |
| Onawa | ISU Monona County Extension | Raised garden beds at Onawa Community Gardens |
| Onawa | West Monona Youth Sports, baseball/softball fields | Dugouts, shade cover, concession stand |
| Osage | City of Osage/Osage Parks and Rec | 6 Park shelters, 4 Park Bathrooms, 2 Concession stands interior and exterior, interior of city hall main floor and basement |
| Paullina | American Legion | East & South side outside |
| Plover | Plover Hometown Pride | Merry-go-round in city park |
| Pocahontas | Princess Pocahontas Statue Restoration Project | Princess Pocahontas statue |
| Polk, Story, Dallas Counties | Mainstream Living | Interior of houses; Wood fence surrounding houses |
| Pomeroy | Pomeroy Historical Society | First and second floor of the Pomeroy Historical Society Museum located at 101 Main St. Pomeroy, Iowa 50575 |
| Postville | Postville Parks, Pool & Rec Board | Park Shelters, picnic tables, park restrooms, pool privacy fence. |
| Postville | Northeast Iowa Wellness & Recreation Center | Women’s Locker Room, Women’s Rest Room, Men’s Locker Room, Men’s Rest Room |
| Pottawattamie | Eckels Library | Computer Room, Front Desk, and Young Adult space |
| Preston | Preston Fire Department | Fire Department Building |
| Ridgeway | Turkey River Cultural Center | Museum area of the center |
| Ringsted | Ringsted Evening Out Club | Ringsted park shelter house |
| Riverton | Riverton Hometown Pride | Riverton Chautauqua Pavilion |
| Ruthven | City of Ruthven | City pool bath house |
| Sac City | Sac City Hometown Pride | Fish Cleaning House at Historic Chautauqua Park |
| Sibley | Sibley Housing and Development Corporation | Shelter houses and storage building in parks |
| Sibley | Sibley Parks & Recreation | Central Park Shelter House |
| Sioux City | Flux Dance Company | Outdoor stage covering/canopy, stage area backdrop and beams |
| Soldier | Soldier Community Club | Side of Warehouse building |
| St. Charles | St. Charles Tourism Board | The Inside of the newly acquired church designated as The St. Charles Welcome Center. |
| Stanhope | Envision Stanhope | Depot waiting room and office area |
| Stanhope | Stanhope Public Library | Children’s area of the public library. |
| Stanwood | City of Stanwood | Exterior of city shop facility building |
| Story City | Bertha Bartlett Public Library | Interior of library |
| Story County | Collins Maxwell Athletic Boosters | Baseball and Softball Concession Stands- Interior walls and floors |
| Sully | City of Sully | Concession Stand at Ballfield Park |
| Tipton | Cedar County Historical Society | Baughman/Shrope House – all 4 sides |
| Tipton | City of Tipton | Locker rooms and Mural at the Tipton family aquatic center |
| Union County | Highland Highlights 4-H Club | Highland rural school house |
| Varina | Hometown Pride | Ends of the park shelter house and the peaks of city garage |
| Vinton | American Legion George G Luckey Post 57 | Entire exterior of 48 ‘ x 99’ x 10’ building |
| Waverly | Waverly Leisure Services | Kiwanis Athletic Storage Building |
| Wayne County | Wayne County Fair Association | 5 Livestock Barns |
| West Branch | City of West Branch | Exterior building of town hall and equipment shed next to town hall |
| Woodbine | Woodbine Main Street | Outdoor auditorium at Circle Park & Picnic Area |
| Woodbury County | City of Moville | Moville Community Center |
| Zearing | Heritage Museum | North and West sides of the building |
