Hometown Pride Expands to Northwest Iowa Communities!

We’re excited to announce that Hometown Pride is coming soon to the communities of Albert City, Alta, Aurelia, Lake Park, Lakeside, Marathon, Newell, Rembrandt, Royal, Sioux Rapids, and Storm Lake!

Hometown Pride committees lead a variety of impactful community improvement projects, events, and programs. These include adding park amenities, organizing clean-up events, creating public art, hosting festivals, fundraising, developing leadership programs, building trails, installing welcome signs, establishing memorials, and enhancing beautification efforts. Each committee’s work program is customized to reflect the unique strengths and needs of its community. We’re thrilled to welcome these communities to the program in December!

Submit Your Photos to the 15th Annual

Keep Iowa Beautiful Photo Contest

Calling all photographers and nature enthusiasts: now's your chance to submit photos to Keep Iowa Beautiful's 15th Annual Photography Contest featuring over $2,000 in cash prizes and SIX categories for entry:

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

Submissions for this year’s contest are due Friday, December 13th — don't wait!

To view prior winners, read the contest rules, and submit entries, click here. We can't wait to see your photographs of what makes Iowa beautiful!

Paint Iowa Beautiful/Diamond Vogel

Project Highlights

Wapello County Fair, Inc.

Wapello County Fair, Inc. gave two buildings a fresh coat of paint this year! The Emergency Management Building serves as the headquarters for the Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department, and EMT/Ambulance personnel for on-site protection. Meanwhile, the Wapello Hall Pavilion is utilized for displays and community outreach, with ongoing efforts to make it available for receptions and other local events. Take a look at the impressive transformation in the after photo!

Engage Keosauqua, Inc.

Engage Keosauqua, Inc. was awarded a Paint Iowa Beautiful/Diamond Vogel grant for their beautification project —a stunning mural on the side of the Van Buren Telephone Company in Keosauqua, Iowa! Be sure to check out this eye-catching and vibrant mural that adds a splash of color to their community! 

Plymouth County Fairgrounds

The sheep barn at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, the first livestock building ever constructed on the grounds, recently received a fresh coat of paint thanks to a Paint Iowa Beautiful/Diamond Vogel grant! Dedicated board volunteers came together to repaint the barn, enhancing its charm and preserving its legacy. Now, the 130,000 visitors who attend the fair each year can admire the newly revitalized barn!

Cedar County Historical Society

The Baughman/Shrope House and summer kitchen at Cedar County Historical Society’s Prairie Village recently got fresh coats of paint. These buildings were part of the Society’s summer programs, where kids explored what life was like for an Iowa farm family during the 1930s Depression. Check out the newly painted house!

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

Hometown Pride News and Updates

Norwalk Hometown Pride's Scarecrow Row Event

The Norwalk Hometown Pride Committee hosted its Scarecrow Row event, where local businesses and community members sponsored and decorated unique scarecrows for public display. Community members voted on their favorites, with the winners announced at the Norwalk Easter Public Library’s Fall Fest!

Maquoketa Betterment Corp./Hometown Pride's Newsletter

The Maquoketa Betterment Corp./Hometown Pride just released the 7th issue of their newsletter, "What's the Buzz?" This edition includes updates on Keep Iowa Beautiful’s photo contest, weekly community runs, the Maquoketa Green Space redevelopment, and more! Check out their latest issue and subscribe to their newsletter to stay updated on their news and projects!

Worthington Hometown Pride's Mural Completed

The Worthington Hometown Pride Committee, along with dedicated community volunteers and businesses, completed a stunning mural on the side of the Fidelity Bank & Trust building in Worthington, Iowa! Designed by local artist Kaitlyn Clemens, the mural beautifully reflects the rich heritage of this Dubuque County community. It features the Worthington logo and slogan, designed by local sisters Michelle Jurgens and Jennie Jaeger, a picturesque farm scene honoring its agricultural roots, and the logos of the local baseball and softball teams, capturing the town’s community spirit. Be sure to check it out!

Luxemburg Hometown Pride's Tree Planting Event

Small towns thrive on community spirit, and Luxemburg is a perfect example! Earlier this month, Luxemburg Hometown Pride organized a tree planting event at Luxemburg City Park, thanks to a Trees for Kids Grant. The event was a huge success, with volunteers and community members coming together to plant several trees throughout the park. A big thank you to everyone who contributed their time and effort to make this happen!

Click here to learn more about our Hometown Pride program.

Volunteer Spotlight - Nancy Kieffer

This month, Keep Iowa Beautiful is shining a spotlight on Nancy Kieffer, a dedicated volunteer with the Preston Hometown Pride Committee! A lifelong Jackson County resident, Nancy grew up in Bellevue and later moved to the Preston area, where she and her husband farm and raise their family. Learn more about her inspiring community involvement below!

"Nancy Kieffer will often say that she's not the brains but she can bring the brawn. While that statement undersells her excellent ideas and vision, she definitely brings the brawn with her ability to rally volunteers and support for Preston Hometown Pride! She is always willing to lend a helping hand in any way she can. She’s been a catalyst in taking Preston’s Main Street Square from an idea to reality - coordinating every piece of it, tracking funding and getting major things donated. She is one of many outstanding members of the Preston community. This rural community is full of residents and business owners who love their community and take pride in where they live." – Amanda Dupont, Preston Hometown Pride Coach  

Social Media Submissions

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Are you proud of a completed project in your town? Do you want to show off a new mural in your downtown? Did you host a fun, exciting event for your community? We want to know about it!

Tag us on social media or click on the button below to share short descriptions of events, projects, or news from your town! You can include pictures and captions as well. Keep Iowa Beautiful will share your post on our social media!