Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. today announced new assignments for several executive leaders across the company, including Kim Austen, president of Allied Insurance in Des Moines. Austen, who has been Allied’s president since 2006, will have his role expanded to include oversight of Scottsdale Insurance Co.; he will also oversee Titan Insurance Services Inc. and Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Co. Kirt Walker, current president of Nationwide Insurance, will assume the role of president of Nationwide Financial. Mark Thresher, current president of Nationwide Financial, will assume the role of chief financial officer for Nationwide. He’ll also oversee investments and Nationwide Realty Investors. Mark Pizzi, current president of Customer Choice Distribution, will assume the role of president of Nationwide Insurance. Larry Hilsheimer, current chief financial officer, will assume the role of president of Nationwide Direct & Customer Solutions (formerly Customer Choice Distribution), which includes Nationwide’s call-center-based sales units. He will also oversee Nationwide Bank, Nationwide Better Health, and customer service. The new assignments have been approved by Nationwide’s board of directors and take effect immediately.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) announced today that it will receive a $210,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Reduce Iowa’s Diesel Exhaust (RIDE) program. DART will use the funds to install clean diesel engines on 12 of its buses to reduce diesel emissions by up to 90 percent. Iowa’s Environmental Protection Commission approved the award of these funds at its meeting last week.

The Iowa Office of Energy Independence has launched a community grants program that will be funded from the Iowa Power Fund. The program will help promote ways to reduce energy bills through energy-efficiency practices and renewable-energy use. Cities, counties and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 through the program, which in fiscal 2010 will have $864,000 available. Some examples of qualified programs include promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy locally, training for or creating jobs in the energy arena, establishing a community energy efficiency plan or creating public awareness about energy issues. The application is posted online at <a href="http://www.energy.iowa.gov"<www.energy.iowa.gov.