Mayor Jim Gray has announced that 24 Lexington neighborhood groups, churches and a school will receive nearly $50,000 in grants to improve the environment in their neighborhoods. The announcement was made today in conjunction with a special Earth Day event at the Fifth Third Pavilion.
The 2012 Neighborhood and Community Sustainability grants are managed by Lexington’s Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works. The grants are an opportunity for residents to work collaboratively and creatively to improve the environmental health of Lexington.
“Lexington is so fortunate to have citizens and groups who want to take an active part in improving our environment,” Mayor Gray said. “The participation and the leadership shown by our neighbors and the cleaner environment are helping us become a Great American City.”
This is the fourth year of the grant program, which provides funds of up to $2,500 for projects such as community and food gardens, rain barrel installation, greenway development, tree planting and beautification efforts. Grant recipients are required to provide a 100% match, which can be in-kind services or materials. Many organizations provide their match through volunteer labor from their congregations, neighborhoods and classrooms.
Grant awards for 2012 range from $669 to a maximum award of $2,500. Organizations that receive grants this year must complete their projects by April 30, 2013.
2012 Neighborhood and Community Sustainability Grant Recipients:
- Columbia Heights Neighborhood Association, $2,350, for beautification and litter pickup
- Twin Pines Christian Church, $688, for a community garden
- Pathway Church, $2,500, for a memorial garden, walking path
- New Beginning Church of God in Christ, $2,452, for a community garden
- Glendover Neighborhood Association, $2,497, for street trees planting
- Tanbark Association of Neighbors, $2,500, for rain barrels
- Faith Lutheran Church, $1,590, for a rain garden
- Wellington Elementary School, $2,500, for a Zen garden
- Fairway Neighborhood Association, $2,500 for street trees planting
- Pasadena Neighborhood Association, $920, to restore trees and vegetation
- Chevy Chase Neighborhood Association, $2,500, for beautification of green spaces
- First Alliance Church, $1,957, to create an amphitheater in a water detention area
- Meadowthorpe Neighborhood Association, $2,000, for a rock wall extension and signage
- The Southland Association, $2,297, for ash tree replacement
- Golf Town Homes Homeowners Association, $2,400, for tree removal and replacement
- Central Christian Church, $2,500, for erosion control and litter cleanup
- Walnut Creek Homeowners Association, $2,500, for street trees planting
- Southpoint Resident Association, $1,285, for beautification of neighborhood entrance
- Dove Creek Townhome Owners Association, $1,655, for beautification and landscaping
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, $2,500, for a beautification project
- Tates Creek Christian Church, $1,735, for a beautification project
- Vineyard Neighborhood Association, $669, for beautification of neighborhood entrance
- Beaumont Residential Association, $2,500, for benches for park
- Gratz Park Neighborhood Association, $2,500, for landscaping project.
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