July 17, 2008
Landscape Enhancement Funds Available to Communities
LINCOLN, Neb. — Funding for community tree-planting and beautification efforts is now available through the Community Enhancement Program coordinated by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and Nebraska Forest Service at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
One of the projects funded in 2007 was an outdoor classroom in Alma, where grant coordinator Bryan Lubeck says the project "turned into so much more than we ever anticipated. It has truly been a great addition to the downtown area of Alma." Besides beautifying the downtown, Lubeck said the project was useful both to the school and to a nearby senior center.
The goal of this grant program is to create long-term, sustainable projects that use diverse plants and encourage environmentally-sound landscape practices that not only improve the landscape of Nebraska roadways, but also provide an example for others and contribute to the health and viability of its communities.
The Nebraska Community Enhancement Program funds tree-planting and landscaping that improves the state's transportation corridors, including public streets, highways, entryways, parking lots and non-loop trails along parks, schools, fairgrounds, college campuses, libraries, courthouses, hospitals, welcome signs and other public properties. Tree-planting is an especially important component of this program although shrubs and herbaceous plantings also are eligible.
The Community Enhancement Program is funded by the Transportation Enhancement Program of the Nebraska Department of Roads. It is an 80 percent/20 percent matching grant program with a maximum funding award of $20,000 per project. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2008 with funding awards announced in January 2009.
Since 1996, the Community Enhancement Program has awarded over $3.5 million in landscaping grants to over 560 projects statewide.
For more information, contact Sue Kohles at (402) 472-2971 or skohles2@unlnotes.unl.edu. Applications and grant descriptions can be found at Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
7/17/08-KL Sue Kohles
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Community Enhancement Program Coordinator (402)472-2971
 
Karma Larsen Communications Associate Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (402)472-7923
Department:
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
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