Some area communities will soon be greener thanks to grants from Alliant Energy’s Community Tree Program, part of their one million trees initiative.

Alliant Energy partners with Trees Forever to help communities develop, select and plant a diverse mix of trees.

This year’s funds will help communities plant trees to increase energy efficiency and replace those destroyed by the 2020 Derecho or the Emerald Ash Borer.

Each community was eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000 to fund new trees that will save energy and improve the environment.  In total, $120,000 in tree grants are being awarded.

Area communities that are benefitting from the Community Tree Program include Eldora, which received a $970 grant for a community tree planting opportunity; Grinnell, which was awarded a $5,000 grant for a windbreak planting project at Grinnell High School; Marshalltown, which received a $5,000 appropriation that will allow for planting in right-of-way areas throughout different areas of the community; and Nevada, which was awarded $3,375 to assist with tree planting at the Score Athletic Complex.

Alliant Energy’s partnership with Trees Forever dates to 1990.  Together, they have awarded over $7.7 million dollars in grants and planted more than 1.1 million trees.