Press Contact:
Andy Frantz, Executive Director
Ph: 515-770-1844
afrantz@keepiowabeautiful.org
DES MOINES, Iowa (April 8, 2026) – Governor Kim Reynolds has officially proclaimed April as Keep Iowa Beautiful Month, continuing a longstanding tradition that highlights the importance of community pride and environmental stewardship. The proclamation encourages all Iowans to participate in local programs that promote cleanliness, beautification, and sustainability in their communities and across the state.
State Representative and Keep Iowa Beautiful board member Megan Jones joined Keep Iowa Beautiful at the Iowa State Capitol on Monday, April 6, to commemorate the occasion during the organization’s annual awards and scholarships ceremony.
For over a decade, Iowa governors have honored April as Keep Iowa Beautiful Month, urging residents to take action in preserving the natural beauty of the state through community-led efforts. In advance of America’s 250th anniversary on July 4th, the 2026 proclamation signing has special significance, as it pays tribute to Keep Iowa Beautiful’s participation in the Greatest American Cleanup, a nation-wide effort to create cleaner and more beautiful communities by America’s 250th Birthday on July 4, 2026.
“This month serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to care for and protect the places we live, work, and play,” said Andy Frantz, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. “From small towns to larger cities, every act of beautification contributes to the vibrancy and health of our communities.”
Additionally, in celebration of Keep Iowa Beautiful month and the Greatest American Cleanup, Keep Iowa Beautiful is excited to announce that they are partnering with Keep America Beautiful to offer Plant Iowa Beautiful mini-grants in 2026 to Iowa communities to beautify their area of the state by planting trees, flowers, and/or gardens!
“Community beautification mini-grants like these empower residents to transform local public spaces, fostering neighborhood pride, enhancing quality of life, and boosting local economies,” said Frantz. “Through these grants, we are turning small-scale beautification into large-scale civic engagement. Its about more than just the immediate transformation; its about inspiring the pride and local participation necessary to maintain and expand these vital community spaces.”
Grants will range from $500-$1000. Communities can apply for Plant Iowa Beautiful beautification mini-grants at https://keepiowabeautiful.org/grants-scholarships/grants/plant-iowa-beautiful-grant/. Applications are due on April 16th at 5pm for priority consideration with a secondary deadline of May 5th if funds are still available.
Keep Iowa Beautiful Month, named after the statewide nonprofit Keep Iowa Beautiful, reflects a broader mission to improve the vitality of Iowa communities and increase environmental awareness. As a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful for 26 years, the organization works to build meaningful partnerships with government agencies, businesses, communities, counties, and service groups. Its statewide initiatives focus on cultivating local leadership, enhancing community amenities, fostering civic pride, boosting economic vitality and increasing cross-sector collaboration through programs like Hometown Pride, Paint Iowa Beautiful and Pick-Up Iowa.
-30-
About Keep Iowa Beautiful
Founded in 2000 by Governor Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti, Keep Iowa Beautiful is a statewide non-profit empowering Iowans to create vibrant communities and build hometown pride through volunteer-driven enhancement programs. An affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful program, Keep Iowa Beautiful strives for a thriving Iowa supported by strong local leadership, beautiful public spaces, and engaged residents. To learn more about our programs or to donate, please visit our website at www.keepiowabeautiful.org
To download full image, right click and select Save image as
