Celebrating 2024 Hometown Pride Success

In 2024, the Hometown Pride program saw impressive achievements, thanks to the guidance of Hometown Pride coaches and the dedication of local volunteers.

Last year alone, a total of 262 projects were completed with the help of over 2,000 volunteers who dedicated 23,000 volunteer hours. The efforts raised an impressive $3 million for local betterment projects. We also welcomed the addition of nine new towns in Northwest Iowa to the program, and we look forward to the positive impact they will make in the year ahead.

The impact of Hometown Pride is a testament to the collective energy, civic pride, and collaboration that continues to drive positive change in Iowa’s hometowns. Notable projects in 2024 spanned a wide array of initiatives, including park pavilions, historic building restorations, splash pads, murals, music events, pickleball courts, tree planting, playground equipment, as well as community holiday events and enhancements like light pole banners, sidewalks, and holiday lights.

Check out some 2024 Hometown Pride project highlights below:

Click here to learn more about our Hometown Pride program.

2025 Scholarship and Paint Iowa Beautiful Grant Applications Close Soon!

Keep Iowa Beautiful awards three $1,000 scholarships each year to Iowa high school seniors who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university. The scholarships are in honor of three pioneers in Keep Iowa Beautiful's 25-year history: Bob Byers, William Fultz, and Gerald Schnepf.

Application deadline: Friday, January 31st, 2025

Notification of grant awardees: April 2025

For details and to apply, click here.

Grant applications for the 2025 Paint Iowa Beautiful program, a collaboration between Keep Iowa Beautiful and Diamond Vogel Paint close on February 14th. This program offers free paint to a diverse range of community projects, enhancing the aesthetics of local spaces.

Application deadline: Friday, February 14th, 2025

Notification of grant awardees: April 2025

For details and to apply, click here.

Paint Iowa Beautiful Project News

Senior Citizen Hospitality Center

The Senior Citizen Hospitality Center in Decorah was built in the 1950's. Over the years, very little improvements had been made to the interior or exterior of the building. Following its reopening after the COVID shutdown, significant improvements were needed throughout the building. Thanks to a Paint Iowa Beautiful grant, the exterior walls of the building were freshly painted. This year, the Senior Center plans to enhance its appearance further by adding its logo to the newly painted wall!

City of Emerson

Take a look at the City of Emerson's beautification project! The court lines for the ball areas at Evans Park have been freshly painted. It took around two gallons of paint to complete the lines for the two basketball courts. Now, the courts are ready for some exciting games of basketball!

Mapleton Rotary Club

Mapleton Rotary Club's Paint Iowa Beautiful project was to paint the fire hydrants in town using four gallons of Diamond Vogel paint. Check out the vibrant red fire hydrants in the after shot!

Click here to learn more about our Paint Iowa Beautiful program.