Metro Lex News

The City of Lexington has announced the second round of grant funding for the Lex Grow Trees program. This initiative aims to enhance the city's tree population by planting new trees, maintaining existing ones, and educating the public about their environmental, societal, economic, and health benefits. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council initially allocated $1.5 million for this purpose.

Eligible entities such as nonprofits, neighborhood associations, and businesses can now apply for these grants to support tree-related projects in Fayette County. Applications are due by November 27, with recipients being notified by December 31. This timeline allows successful applicants to prepare for spring planting.

In June, the first round of grants awarded a total of $491,131.55 to nine organizations across Lexington. These funds supported various projects including tree plantings and maintenance as well as educational initiatives on tree care.

The Lex Grow Trees Committee will host two virtual information sessions on October 28 to provide further details about the program. According to Heather Wilson, LFUCG’s Urban and Community Forestry Section Manager: “Protecting and continuing to increase our urban tree canopy are vital pieces of our continued efforts to ensure that all of our neighbors have access to the benefits trees provide.”

The initiative is guided by findings from the 2022 Urban Tree Canopy Study which highlighted Council Districts 1, 2, and 7 as areas needing increased tree coverage.

For more information on applying for grants or participating in related activities, interested parties are encouraged to visit the program's website.