Applications for 2025 Paint Iowa Beautiful Grants Now Open!

We are thrilled to announce that applications for the 2025 Paint Iowa Beautiful program are now open! This program provides free paint to support a variety of community projects across Iowa, helping beautify and revitalize local spaces. Grants are administered by Keep Iowa Beautiful, with paint provided by Diamond Vogel Paint of Orange City, Iowa.

Application deadline: Friday, February 14th, 2025

Last Call to Submit Your Photos to the

15th Annual Photo Contest!

The deadline for Keep Iowa Beautiful's 15th Annual Photo Contest is fast approaching—submit your photos by Friday, December 13th! Don’t miss your chance to win a share of over $2,000 in cash prizes across six categories.

Categories:

• Iowa Landscape
• Iowa Water
• Iowa Cities
• Iowans in Action
• Iowa Wildlife
• Hometown Pride

To view prior winners, read the contest rules, and submit entries, click here. Enter now and showcase the beauty of Iowa!

Please Welcome Sarah Lettow to

Keep Iowa Beautiful's Team!

We’re excited to introduce Sarah Lettow as Keep Iowa Beautiful's new Administrative Coordinator!

With over 12 years of experience at the ALS Association, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise in fundraising, operations, and volunteer engagement—skills that will be invaluable in advancing our mission. We’re thrilled to have Sarah on board and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in helping Iowa shine even brighter!

Save the Date: Keep Iowa Beautiful's

4th Annual Golf Tournament

Mark your calendars for Keep Iowa Beautiful's 4th Annual Golf Tournament and Silent Auction on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025, at Copper Creek Golf Club in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. ⛳ Exciting details are on the way—stay tuned and get ready for a day of fun and community impact!

Check out the highlights from the 3rd Annual Golf Tournament held this past summer!

Hometown Pride News and Updates

Hometown Pride Coming to

Northwest Iowa

Albert City, Alta, Aurelia, Lake Park, Lakeside, Marathon, Royal, Sioux Rapids, and Storm Lake have passed city council resolutions to join the Hometown Pride program. Keep Iowa Beautiful is excited to welcome a community coach for these communities in December!

Indianola Hometown Pride

"Wonder on Buxton" Project

Indianola Hometown Pride's “Wonder on Buxton” project had its first sculpture installed and the cement slabs are in place in preparation for the other sculptures.

“Wonder on Buxton” uses a series of public art pieces and creative signage to connect Indianola’s downtown square with the Simpson College campus. 

New Virginia Hometown Pride

Holiday Home Tour

New Virginia Hometown Pride is excited to announce the return of Country Christmas: A Holiday Home Tour on December 6th and 7th! Five beautifully unique country homes in the New Virginia area will be showcased, each chosen for its charm, design, and festive holiday decor. Plus, local market vendors will be joining for a little holiday shopping.

Click here to learn more about our Hometown Pride program.

Paint Iowa Beautiful Updates

Highland Highlights 4H Club

The Highland Highlights 4H Club recently painted the historic Highland Township Schoolhouse, a space used for both the club's monthly meetings and Highland Township Trustees meetings. This community-driven project brought together 4H members and dedicated volunteers to complete this successful Paint Iowa Beautiful project!

Osage Parks and Recreation

Osage Parks and Recreation recently revitalized three shelter houses with a fresh coat of paint! The structures were roofed and sided with tin and the trusses of each were painted white, while the pillars and all visible wood were painted green to seamlessly complement the tin.

City of Sully

The City of Sully recently refreshed the concession stand at Ballfield Park that's used during youth league softball and baseball games in the spring and summer. In need of an update, the fresh coat of paint is part of a larger renovation project aimed at enhancing the building’s appearance and functionality, creating a more inviting and efficient space for game-day concessions.

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

Keep Iowa Beautiful and Iowa Governor's Proclamation Recognize Iowa Recycles Day

Keep Iowa Beautiful was excited to participate in the celebration of Iowa Recycles Day, an important occasion dedicated to raising awareness about recycling and promoting sustainable practices across our state. Governor Kim Reynolds has officially declared November 15th as Iowa Recycles Day, and we are proud to support this initiative in partnership with the Iowa Recycling Association.

We encourage you to read the full proclamation from Governor Reynolds, emphasizing the vital role recycling and environmental stewardship play in preserving our state. Let’s continue to reduce, reuse, and recycle to make a lasting impact!

Recycling Facts: Did You Know?

Did you know that aluminum can be recycled an unlimited number of times? That's right! So, next time you reach for that cold beverage, remember to toss it in the recycling bin instead of the trash!

Did you know that paper and cardboard are the most recycled materials by weight in the United States? When you recycle paper and cardboard, you're not just reducing waste—you’re giving these materials a brand-new life! 

To learn more about Recycles Day and how to recycle effectively, visit kab.org.