The Link

10/4/2012
TREES FOREVER

Students to Plant Trees Along 12th Street

Project Supported by Trees Forever and Alliant Energy

WHAT: 12th Street Tree Planting Project

WHEN: Friday, October 5 starting at 9:00 A.M.

WHERE: Monroe Park, 12th Street NW and N. Monroe Avenue, Mason City

WHO: Mason City Alternative High School students, Bob Berggren, Mason City Parks & Streets Supervisor, Jeff Jensen & Meredith Borchardt, Trees Forever Field Coordinators, Jim Collins, Alliant Energy representative, Community Volunteers

Mason City, IA (October 3, 2012) – Students from Mason City Alternative High School will be helping to enhance one local neighborhood through a special tree-planting project planned for this Friday. The tree-planting event is scheduled for October 5 at 9:00 a.m. beginning at Monroe Park, located at the corner of 12th St NW and N. Monroe Ave. Approximately 25 trees will be planted along 12th Street to provide shade and other benefits to the community. An additional 25 trees will be planted next spring as part of the overall project. This tree-planting project is made possible by Alliant Energy and Trees Forever through their nationally recognized Branching Out community tree program.

Planting trees helps lower energy costs and helps reduce peak electric demand. Trees also provide many other long-term health, economic, social and environmental benefits to the community. Trees Forever administers the Branching Out program throughout Iowa, providing technical and planning support to participating communities. Alliant Energy funds the overall program, and provides project grants to communities. This fall alone, the Branching Out program is providing over $90,000 in grant funding to assist 26 Iowa communities and groups with tree-planting projects.

Branching Out grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year, but are considered for funding during two grant-making cycles (spring and fall). The next application deadline is November 1, 2012. Spring 2013 grant recipients will be announced in January 2013. For more information, contact Trees Forever at 1-800-369-1269 x110. Applications are also available online at www.alliantenergy.com/branchingout or www.treesforever.org.

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Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization based in Marion, IA committed to planting trees, encouraging community involvement and stewardship, and caring for the environment. Programs focus on improving air and water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, providing substantial energy savings and beautifying our landscape. For more information visit www.treesforever.org or call 800-369-1269.

Branching Out is a nationally recognized program where Alliant Energy, Trees Forever and Iowa communities work together to plan and create outstanding tree-planting projects. The program is designed to encourage energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and community stewardship in Iowa. Branching Out is offered exclusively to Iowa communities where Alliant Energy provides electric and/or natural gas service. The utility provides grants of between $500 and $10,000 for community-based, tree-planting projects – like parks, gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, nursing homes, schools and more. Trees Forever administers the program, providing technical and planning support.

(Contact: Mark Signs at 319-325-7750, MSigns@TreesForever.org or Anna Darling, Alliant Energy, 319-786-4542 or Rachel Pike, Mason City, 641-421-3372)