Does your neighborhood need trees?

 Karen Brook, field coordinator for Trees Forever, passed along this info about a tree planting program in Cedar Rapids. Trees Forever and Alliant Energy are accepting nominations for the We Dig Your District planting program in Cedar Rapids, with a deadline of Feb. 26. Trees Forever will work with the chosen sites to design the planting, purchase the trees and carry out the planting.  Sites can be public, non-profit or a neighborhood.  Karen said they are looking for a site in each of the five Cedar Rapids City Council districts.

  Here is more from Trees Forever:  

  Alliant Energy and Trees Forever want to know where you would like to see more trees planted in your favorite neighborhood park. Do you know of a school playground, nursing home, sports complex, cemetery, or trail that could benefit from some well-placed trees? If so, let your ideas be known.

 Alliant Energy and Trees Forever are once again offering We Dig Your District, a partnership program to plant trees in each of the five Cedar Rapids City Council Districts to demonstrate how trees improve energy efficiency and contribute to a healthier and more beautiful community. And, we need your help!

 Get into the energy efficiency groove and submit suggestions for the 2010 We Dig Your District tree-planting locations.

 Suggestions will be reviewed based on their potential to improve energy efficiency, enhance the environment and meet a community need. The review committee will include representatives from Alliant Energy and Trees Forever, with input from local city council members.

 To submit a suggestion, tell us the following in 300 words or less.

1. Your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address (optional)
2. The community location where you would like to see trees planted (The location must be within Alliant Energy's electric service territory in Cedar Rapids.)
3. Why your location should be selected; what makes it special and how trees would make a difference at this site.

 Suggestion(s) must be submitted by February 26, 2010 to receive consideration. Submissions can be made online at www.alliantenergy.com/wedigyourdistrict  or via mail to Alliant Energy, Community Relations, Attn: We Dig Your District, 200 First Street SE, PO Box 351, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0351.

 Selections will include one site within each of the five Cedar Rapids City Council Districts. Planting sites will be announced in March 2010. The 2009 We Dig Your District planting sites included Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Washington High School, the Oak Hill Jackson Neighborhood, Cherry Hill Park, and Kirkwood Community College. 

 “We had a great year planting 155 trees in 2009, and I look forward to planting in Cedar Rapids again in 2010,” said Tom Aller, President – Interstate Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company. “We want to help make your favorite Cedar Rapids outdoor spot even more beautiful!”

 For more information, contact Karen Brook, Trees Forever field coordinator at 373-0650 ext. 14 or email kbrook@treesforever.org

 Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization with a mission to plant and care for trees and the environment. Trees Forever has involved over 150,000 volunteers in projects that improve air and water quality, increase wildlife habitat, provide substantial energy savings and beautify our landscape.

 Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 400,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company's primary focus. Interstate Power and Light, the company's Iowa utility subsidiary, serves approximately 530,000 electric and 235,000 natural gas customers.  Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.alliantenergy.com