Volunteers across Iowa will soon make a major impact on their hometown by planting new trees. This spring, we are working with Trees Forever to fund $181,923 for 44 tree planting projects. These projects are part of the Branching Out program and are listed below.

Volunteers plant trees as part of Branching Out in Cedar Rapids, IA in 2014.
Branching Out is a team effort. We provide the funding and local community leaders create each tree-planting project. Experts from Trees Forever help with many parts of the project, especially making sure designs help improve energy-efficiency and that trees are planted correctly.
As of this spring, volunteers have planted trees as part of Branching Out for 25 years. The work has improved energy efficiency across the state. Trees block the sun on hot days and the wind on cold days. Trees also improve the environment by capturing carbon.
“This volunteer work has had a huge impact in Iowa,” said Doug Kopp, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility. “When you add all the trees planted, they have saved the same amount of energy that would be used by 1,242 homes in one year.”
Trees provide many benefits that increase as they grow. To help trees last a long time, it is important to plant and care for them properly. With the threat of Emerald Ash Borer, Japanese beetles, Gypsy moth, Bur Oak Blight and others, the need for a diverse population of trees is important across Iowa.
“We have been working with communities to diversify the species of trees they plant and recent applications to the Branching Out program demonstrate the communities’ commitment to this effort,” said Meredith Borchardt, Trees Forever program manager. “A diverse urban forest is the best way to ensure resiliency when faced with threats such as the Emerald Ash Borer, or whatever the next major disease or pest threat might be.”
For more information, contact Trees Forever at 1-800-369-1269 or visit alliantenergy.com/branchingout or treesforever.org.
Communities and organizations receiving awards this spring:
Community |
Grant |
Project description |
Ames |
$1,305 |
Planting for energy efficiency and ash tree replacement at Windsor Oaks Senior Living Community |
Asbury |
$3,750 |
Ash tree replacement at Asbury City Park |
Atlantic |
$4,505 |
Ash tree replacement at East Ridge Park and walking trail |
Blairstown |
$1,690 |
Plantings in parking areas along the streets and a city park |
Boone |
$4,037 |
Trees planted at Mamie Eisenhower birthplace green space and street trees along Division Street |
Burlington |
$10,000 |
Street trees in areas of South Hill neighborhood to replace ash trees |
Cedar Rapids |
$7,500 |
Adding trees to Noelridge Park and Arboretum |
Cedar Rapids |
$1,850 |
Eagle Scout Project with Troop 5200 and Cedar Rapids Community School District at Cleveland Elementary School to replace storm damaged trees |
Cherokee |
$7,638 |
Planting 60 trees along three walking trails within the city |
Clinton |
$5,495 |
Replacing and adding trees to Riverview RV Park |
Cresco |
$750 |
Planting trees in residential areas throughout town |
Creston |
$10,000 |
Plantings at the VFW Softball Complex, McKinley Park, Walking Trail, Southwest Community College Campus and Historical Village |
Dysart |
$3,565 |
Trees on the CR Roberts Trail, in the Heritage Arboretum, City Park, and the elementary school |
Eldora |
$1,376 |
Trees for a new arboretum in the city cemetery |
Eldora |
$1,313 |
Replacing trees lost in 2009 hailstorm at Camp Quaker Heights |
Fairfield |
$2,045 |
Planting 23 trees in Chautauqua Park to replace ash trees |
Greenfield |
$1,600 |
Trees planted at local golf course, Northside Outdoor Sports Complex and along city streets |
Grinnell |
$10,000 |
Plantings along residential streets and industrial area |
Hiawatha |
$7,645 |
Planting 26 trees along Boyson Road |
Hubbard |
$1,000 |
Planting 12 trees in town and along residential streets and the town entryway |
Jefferson |
$5,000 |
Adding trees along Maple Street and Daubendiek Park |
Lisbon |
$2,780 |
Plantings in the Novak addition, Grant avenue Circle Drive in Alger Estates, the downtown area and the cemetery |
Marion |
$7,074 |
Replacing trees lost to storm damage at Gardener Memorial Golf Course |
Marion |
$5,250 |
Plantings on the north and south sides of Tower Terrace Road from 10th St. to 3rd St. |
Marshalltown |
$3,067 |
Planting 33 trees across four city parks |
Mason City |
$9,989 |
Planting in the downtown area, including around parking lots and along streets |
Mechanicsville |
$1,215 |
Replacing ash and storm damaged trees along streets and in parks |
Middletown |
$1,000 |
Replacing damaged and dying trees at Jack Druis Park, Gary Van Sant Memorial Park and adding a shade tree near the Municipal Building |
Mount Pleasant |
$1,400 |
Plantings at Prairie View Park and East Lake Park |
Mount Vernon |
$6,530 |
Plantings for a windbreak screen by pool at Davis Park, Nature Park, athletic complex, and dog kennel |
Muscatine |
$10,000 |
Planting trees along Colorado Street |
Nevada |
$1,152 |
Eagle Scout Project with Troop 128, adding trees to SCORE Park |
Newton |
$3,478 |
Plantings at Maytag and Woodland Parks to replace diseased trees |
Oxford |
$10,000 |
Street trees along Augusta Avenue, near Interstate 80 and at Creekside Park |
Preston |
$550 |
Adding trees to outdoor classroom at Easton Valley School |
Rudd |
$1,241 |
Planting trees for shade on walking-biking trail around the lake |
Stacyville |
$1,000 |
Adding eight trees to City Park |
Storm Lake |
$9,737 |
Plantings at city-owned Storm Lake Cemetery |
Villisca |
$2,420 |
Plantings at the new Frisbee Court, an existing Walking Trail, and the Villisca Cemetery |
Washington |
$1,600 |
Plantings at Kirkwood Community College Regional Center and All Veterans’ Memorial Park |
Washington |
$1,653 |
Replacing ash and diseased trees in several city parks, near an old water storage tank and along streets |
Waukon |
$1,886 |
Adding street trees along 11th Ave SW, 13th St NW, the City Park border along Hwy 9/76 and 3rd Ave. NW |
Wayland |
$900 |
Replacement trees in City Park |
West Branch |
$5,935 |
Planting 125 trees on the campus and farm of Scattergood Friends School in celebration of their 125th Anniversary |
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About us:
Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization with a mission to plant and care for trees and the environment. Trees Forever has involved over 150,000 volunteers in projects that improve air and water quality, increase wildlife habitat, provide substantial energy savings and beautify our landscape.
Alliant Energy Corporation’s Iowa and Minnesota utility subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), utilizes the trade name of Alliant Energy. The Iowa and Minnesota utility is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and provides electric service to 530,000 customers and natural gas service to 235,000 customers in over 700 communities. The employees of Alliant Energy focus on delivering the energy and exceptional service their customers and communities expect – safely, efficiently, and responsibly. Visit alliantenergy.com or call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) for more information. Alliant Energy Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT.
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