New Funding Opportunities Announced to Grow Lexington’s Tree Canopy

The City of Lexington is excited to announce the second round of grant funds to be awarded as part of the Lex Grow Trees program, which is focused on making Lexington's tree population healthier and bigger. The grants come from an initial allotment of $1.5 million that the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council set aside for Lex Grow Trees to plant new trees, take care of existing ones and teach people why trees are so important for our environment, society, economy and health.

The application window for this round of grants is now open. Nonprofits, neighborhood associations, and businesses can apply for money to help with tree projects in Fayette County. Applications are due Nov. 27. Recipients will be notified by Dec. 31, 2024, in time to get supplies for planting in the spring.

The first round of grants, awarded in June, went to nine organizations, granting a combined $491,131.55 to fund large projects in neighborhoods throughout Lexington. The projects include tree plantings, tree maintenance, tree care education, and even an oral history project recording the impact that trees have on the health of the community.

The Lex Grow Trees Committee is hosting two virtual information sessions on Monday, October 28th. The first will take place from noon - 1 p.m. and a second, evening session will be from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Information available on the website includes:

• grant details and application
• meeting information, including links to join the webinars and view a recording of the sessions (afterward)
• information on other Lex Grow Trees initiatives.

The Lex Grow Trees Committee has heard from the community that trees are vital to them and to the overall well-being of Lexington. With equity at the heart of this initiative, the committee's goal is to ensure trees are planted and cared for in the areas that need them most.

So, why trees and why now? Over the past several years, residents have voiced an unprecedented level of concern for our city's tree canopy. In response, the Urban County Council and the administration designated funds to support Lexington's tree canopy. The $1.5 million was placed with the Division of Environmental Services. The Division formed a Tree Canopy Ad Hoc Committee (aka the Lex Grow Trees Committee) to provide input on how the funds should be allocated. The Committee created the Lex Grow Trees campaign, which is dedicated to addressing tree canopy inequalities in Lexington and sharing information about ongoing tree-related projects and initiatives.

"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," said Heather Wilson, LFUCG's Urban and Community Forestry Section Manager. "From cleaning the air of pollutants and cooling our city during the summer months to reducing rates of heart disease, stress and inflammation, trees have far-reaching effects. Their presence also increases student test scores in schools and encourages communal spaces to gather beneath. The benefits provided by each individual tree are shared broadly, across our entire community. I am so excited to see what the next round of grant applications look like and I am hopeful that our applicants continue to think big picture, and in ways outside of our existing box."

The Lex Grow Trees effort is informed by the 2022 Urban Tree Canopy Study. In that report, Council Districts 1, 2, and 7 were identified as areas that could benefit most from tree canopy expansion.

Get the latest information on grants, volunteer opportunities and information sessions and sign up for the Lex Grow Trees e-newsletter on the website.