Attendees of the 4th annual Keep Iowa Beautiful Annual Conference learned, discussed and heard a variety of valuable presentations from distinguished speakers and panelists within the industry. This presentation is for your review; feel free to share with others. Please contact us if you have any questions, gschnepf@keepiowabeautiful.com. If you've enjoyed what you've seen here, please consider becoming a member of Keep Iowa Beautiful which helps to continually support the improvement of Iowa communities and impacts statewide economic development. Join today: www.keepiowabeautiful.com/memberships

1. • Blue
Ribbon
• Sponsor
Blue Ribbon
Sponsor
The Voice of Iowa’s Grocery Industry
Iowa Grocery Industry
Association

2. • Blue
Ribbon
• Sponsor
Blue Ribbon
Sponsor Brett Anderson,
Iowa Grocery Industry Association
About IGIA -
Membership
Retail (Grocery and
Convenience)
Suppliers
Wholesalers
The Iowa Grocery Industry
Association (IGIA) has over 1,100
members. Represents the food
industry including:
• Chain supermarkets
• Independent supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Suppliers/Manufacturers/Brokers
• Wholesalers

3. Blue Ribbon
Sponsor
Iowa Grocery Industry Association
Serving as the “Voice of Iowa’s Grocery Industry Since1899”
the IGIA has long served as a resource to its members, the food
industry and the public through education, legislative support,
networking and philanthropic programs.

4. Build with Bags Partners

5. Build with Bags Program Overview
• In 2009, focus groups were convened
to discuss shopping bag issues.
• In response a program was developed
to encourage the recycling of plastic
bags and assist in reducing the
environmental impact of shopping
bags.

6. Build with Bags Program Overview
Build with Bags program, aims to:
1. Reduce the consumption of plastic bags,
2. Encourage the safe use of reusable bags,
3. Increase the amount of plastic bags recycled, and
4. Establish and a grant program to aid parks and schools in purchasing
products made of recycled plastic bags

7. Build with Bags Grant Program
• Cornerstone of Build with Bags
program.
• Developed to support the program’s
goal of increasing plastic bag recycling.
• Initiated to support “closing the plastic
bag loop”
• By demonstrating how recycled plastic
bags can be re-used in the
manufacturing of outdoor furniture and
equipment.

8. Build with Bags Grant Program

9. Build with Bags Grant Program
• One park bench
represents how many
bags that won’t end
up in the landfill?
• 10,600

10. Grant Eligibility
• Available to any governmental entity or
organization in Iowa that purchases items for park
or school
• Items awarded / purchased through grant
program must be made of recycled high density
polyethylene (PDPE) plastic, material for making
plastic shopping bags.
• Grant Limits: Max of $2,000
• Application Deadline: March 30
• Grants Announced: Earth Day

11. Grant Criteria
Following items are evaluated by the Build with
Bags Selection Committee:
• Statement of Need
• Public Awareness
• Verifiable Recycled Plastic Content
• Plastic Bags Recycling
• Endorsement Letter
• Geographic Location
Also a factor in order to disperse the grant awards
throughout state

12. Grant Program Fun Facts
• Program is in sixth year
• Exceeded expectations
• 45 application received in 2015
• 22 grants awarded totaling nearly
$40,000
• In six years the program has awarded
$216,554.01 in grants to more than 100
Iowa communities

13. 2015 Grant Recipients
1. City of Alden
2. Big Green of Hubbard
3. Buffalo Center Public Library
4. Community Youth Concepts
5. City of Grand Junction
6. Kiwanis Club of Hampton
7. City of Laurens
8. City of Leon
9. City of Manning
10.Nishna Heritage Museum
11.City of Norwalk
12.Palmer Hometown Pride Comm
13.Pocahontas Area Comm Schools
14.Rock Run Elementary School
15.Rolfe Hometown Pride Comm
16.Friends of Roosevelt Park
17.Siouxland Historical Railroad Assn
18.Sons & Daughters of Imogene
19.Southwest Iowa Nature Trails
20.City of Stratford
21.City of Varina's Hometown Comm
22.City of Zearing

14. Build with Bags Information
• Grant program details handout available
• Iowa Grocery Industry Association
Michelle Hurd, President
mhurd@iowagrocers.com
Peggy Sellner, Member Services Coordinator
psellner@iowagrocers.com
• Website
www.iowagrocers.com