November 2, 2022

The Keep Iowa Beautiful Board of Directors has appointed Andrew J. Frantz as the new Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. He began his duties on November 1, 2022. 

“The board is very pleased to have Andy join Keep Iowa Beautiful, boosting our efforts to make Iowa’s communities better places to live, work and raise a family,” said Reo Menning, Chair of the KIB Board of Directors. “Andy has a long history in providing outstanding leadership, strong management, organizational development and revenue growth.” 

“I look forward to working with the Keep Iowa Beautiful team of dedicated Board members, staff and coaches as KIB continues to improve the cultural and economic vitality of our Iowa communities,” said Andy Frantz. “Programs like Hometown Pride and Paint Iowa Beautiful provide foundational and innovative resources to help communities thrive.”  

After a long career with Principal Financial Group as Assistance Vice President, Frantz joined Frantz Community Investors, a family-owned commercial real estate development company. Most recently he collaborated with his brothers, forming a new commercial real estate entity focused on restoration of historic hotels. 

Frantz lives in Pleasant Hill. He enjoys sports of any kind, exercise, outdoor activities and spending time with his family and friends. 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, September 16, 2022 — A new partnership between the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) and Keep Iowa Beautiful’s Hometown Pride program will provide extra support to five rural Iowa towns. 

“Keep Iowa Beautiful is partnering with ECICOG and leaders in Center Point, Hills, Shellsburg, Springville and Walker,” said Reo Menning, Chair of the Keep Iowa Beautiful Board of Directors. “As a result, five more communities will have the potential to increase their cultural and economic vitality, improving them as great places to live, work and raise a family.”

The Hometown Pride program was developed in 2012 as an effort to assist and improve communities through a five-year coaching commitment. The comprehensive coaching is intended to adapt to the individual and unique circumstances of its communities, so local leaders are integral in planning and decision making. 

The coach for the five towns in ECICOG’s region is Community Development Specialist Jessica Johnson, who will work with the communities to coordinate strong advocates and activists for the mission.  We are thrilled to help Keep Iowa Beautiful expand the Hometown Pride program to five communities in our region,” said Johnson. “Building vibrant communities is one of seven strategic pillars in the Envision East Central Iowa economic development plan and this program is a perfect fit for that work.” 

Johnson will conduct a full assessment of existing community plans and programs, gather community input and assist each community with developing an action plan. She will then work with local leaders to recruit and select local steering committees to lead certain areas of the action plan and programs. 

Statewide, the Hometown Pride program is operating in Clinton, Dubuque, Jackson, Johnson, Linn, Pocahontas, Vinton and Warren counties, with a total of 69 communities participating. For more information on the Hometown Pride Program, contact Community Development Specialist Jessica Johnson at [email protected] or visit the Keep Iowa Beautiful website.

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The East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is an intergovernmental council established in 1973 under Chapter 28E and provided for under Chapter 28H of the Code of Iowa. COGs provide regional planning and technical assistance to local governments and the communities in their regions.

After serving as Associate Director for 21 years, Bill Jackson has announced his retirement from Keep Iowa Beautiful after supporting the organization since its inception in 2000. 

            “For 21 years, I was proud to work with such dedicated staff and board members,” said Jackson, “all striving to make Iowa a better place to live and raise a family.”

            Jackson led a career of service to Iowa and its citizens. Beginning in 1961, Jackson joined WHO TV as a part-time “floor boy” in the production department. Over the years, Jackson was promoted to camera person, lighting director, audio director, assistant director, director and production manager before departing in 1970. From here, Jackson accepted a position as the administrative assistant to Governor Robert D. Ray from 1970 to 1979. In 1979, Jackson received an offer to return to WHO as the Station Manager until 1986 when Governor Terry Branstad appointed Jackson to direct the newly formed Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. In 2000, following his time at the Department of Cultural Affairs and a short-term position with the U.S. Census Bureau, Jackson joined Keep Iowa Beautiful. 

            “Keep Iowa Beautiful is beyond thankful for the dedication, expertise and passion Jackson has shown our organization throughout his tenure,” says Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “Bill’s leadership will be missed, but we wish him a joyful retirement.”

            Jackson’s service to Iowa surpasses his career involvement through his membership in the Des Moines Symphony Board of Directors, Arts Midwest Board, Des Moines Rotary Club and the Gold Star Museum. He is past president of the Salvation Army Board of Directors, treasurer of the Chinese Cultural Center of America and member of the Iowa Sister State Committee, the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, the Des Moines United Way Campaign Committee and the Iowa Broadcasters Association.

Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) has announced a new expansion of KIB’s Hometown Pride program with the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA), the Board of Supervisors of Dubuque and Jackson Counties, and 14 communities: Preston, Sabula, Baldwin, LaMotte, Miles, Asbury, Holy Cross, Luxemburg, Maquoketa, New Vienna, Peosta, Rickardsville, Sageville and Worthington. Through the Hometown Pride program, Keep Iowa Beautiful is building strong communities with sustainable futures across the state. 

The Hometown Pride program enhances the economic and cultural vitality of communities by supporting, facilitating and furthering the implementation of community and county plans and ideas in a coordinated strategy with the assistance of a community coach.  

“Keep Iowa Beautiful is excited to expand our partnership with ECIA and leaders in Dubuque County and Jackson County,” said Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “With today’s expansion, 14 communities will now have the potential to increase their cultural and economic vitality, improving them as great places to live, work and raise a family.” 

“We are thrilled to help KIB expand the Hometown Pride program to 13 new communities in Dubuque and Jackson Counties,” said Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director of East Central Intergovernmental Association. “Hometown Pride has proven it strengthens our communities and betters their chances for not only survival but growth and increased pride.”

Amanda Dupont, Dylan Michels and Tricia Wagner will serve as Hometown Coaches for the participating communities in Dubuque County and Jackson County. Dupont is a Grant Writer/Inspector and has worked in community outreach throughout her professional career. Dupont notes that “Keep Iowa Beautiful’s expansion in Dubuque and Jackson Counties brings new opportunities to better the local communities so many Iowans call home.”

Dylan Michels has over 8 years of experience working with communities on various projects including transportation, hazard mitigation, Brownfields, housing and transit. “We look forward to developing local committees in each town. Each member is assigned distinct roles and duties to act on the community’s plan, creating an engaged and active group,” added Michels.

Tricia Wagner brings over five years of experience on community and economic development. Wagner stated that “Our goal as Hometown Pride Coaches is to give technical guidance and provide assistance to local committees. We aim to deliver a sense of stability and empowerment for all those involved in Hometown Pride.” 

The Hometown Pride program has operated in 15 Iowa Counties and 112 Communities.

Diamond Vogel and Keep Iowa Beautiful announced the grant awards for the 2022 Paint Iowa Beautiful program.  The program provides free paint to a wide variety of public service projects throughout Iowa.

 “The partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful allows Diamond Vogel to assist and work with many local volunteers that help build communities, making Iowa one of the best states in the nation to live,” said Doug Vogel, Vice-President, Marketing, of the Iowa based company. “Governor Reynolds will be signing a proclamation designating April as Keep Iowa Beautiful month and we are pleased to do our part by awarding paint to 154 community projects in Iowa.”

“Over the years, the Paint Iowa Beautiful program has awarded paint grants to projects in every county in Iowa,” said Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful.  “The program provides the paint for beautification and clean-up projects that improve the economic vitality and cultural climate of Iowa communities in every corner of Iowa.”

In the 19-year partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful, Diamond Vogel has awarded over 12,564 gallons of paint for 1,286 community projects in Iowa.

In addition to paint projects, join over 50 communities participating in Keep Iowa Beautiful’s Pick Up Iowaannual program by cleaning up litter and trash along Iowa’s roadsides, neighborhoods, streets, school grounds, parks and streams.  Encourage your community mayor, city council or county supervisors to announce several days or a week as PICK-UP YOUR COMMUNITY.  Pick-Up Iowa is being held through June 30^th, 2022 on any dates that work for your community.  To participate you must register your group/organization at https://keepiowabeautiful.org/get-involved/community-outreach-opportunities/pick-up-iowa/. Registered participant groups are eligible for a limited supply of free cleanup supplies donated by Keep Iowa Beautiful.

2022 Paint Awards