Posted on Sep 23, 2024 | News,Press Releases
Keep Louisiana Beautiful Awards $113,500 in Beautification Grants to 16 Organizations in 12 Parishes
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Office of the Lieutenant Governor and Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) are pleased to announce the 2024-25 grant recipients of the KLB Beautification Grant program. KLB has awarded $113,500 in grants to 16 organizations in 12 parishes for beautification projects.
“We commend these organizations for taking pride in their communities and improving public spaces through beautification,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “We are fortunate to live in Sportsman’s Paradise, and we need to do everything we can to keep Louisiana beautiful.”
“Beautification visually enhances a community, leading to increased tourism, economic development, community pride, and an improved quality of life for residents,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “It is also proven that a place that is well maintained is less likely to be littered. First impressions count, and this grant program helps communities look their best.”
The KLB Beautification Grant provides reimbursement grants for beautification projects ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The grant program funds planting projects and welcome signs on public property in highly visible areas such as community entry points, highway corridors and medians, and major roadways and intersections. Plants and trees must be at least 25 percent native to Louisiana and other restrictions apply. In addition to beautifying public spaces, projects exhibit diverse community support, collaborations between organizations, matching contributions, and benefits to community residents.
Eligible to apply were Louisiana parishes, municipalities, state agencies, governmental entities, political subdivisions, public universities and colleges, and KLB Affiliates in good standing.
All funded beautification projects will be completed by May 2025.
Grant recipients by parish include:
Beauregard Parish
City of DeRidder/Keep DeRidder Beautiful: The City of DeRidder will plant Live Oak trees and Willow Oak trees in West Park.
Bienville Parish
Town of Arcadia: The beautification project will involve installing welcome signage surrounded by plants native to Louisiana at town entry points.
East Baton Rouge Parish
City of Baker/Keep Baker Beautiful: Native Louisiana trees and plants will be planted in the area surrounding the welcome sign.
City of Zachary: The city will purchase Louisiana native crepe myrtles to replace those lost along the medians throughout the city.
LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens: Deciduous and evergreen trees predominantly native to the region will be planted near the entrance to LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens.
Jefferson Parish
Grand Isle: The Grand Isle Garden Club and the town of Grand Isle will use the grant to plant live oak trees to replace the cheniere canopy that was damaged by Hurricane Ida.
Lafourche Parish
City of Thibodaux: The City of Thibodaux’s goal for this project is to enhance Eagle Park with a new sign, adorning plants, and trees.
Orleans Parish
Dillard University: The university will landscape the areas in front of the dormitories that connect to the Avenue of the Oaks.
Keep Algiers Beautiful: The purpose of Keep Algiers Beautiful’s beautification project is to create and restore signage and do plantings in various areas of Algiers.
Sabine Parish
Village of Florien: The Village of Florien will erect welcome signs and doing plantings around the signs.
St. James Parish
Keep St. James Parish Beautiful: The primary purpose of this planting project is to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the St. James Parish Welcome Center.
St. Martin Parish
City of Breaux Bridge: The grant will add shade trees and plants to the newly renovated Judge Carl Williams Park.
St. Tammany Parish
City of Mandeville: A vast vacant land in the center of the City of Mandeville will be transformed into a drought tolerant native tree and palmetto garden.
Keep Slidell Beautiful: The grant will fund a planting project at the train depot, right outside of the busy Olde Towne Main Street District.
Tangipahoa Parish
City of Hammond/Keep Hammond Beautiful: The City of Hammond plans to renovate Morrison Alley with beautiful, well-maintained gardens and plantings.
Webster Parish
City of Minden: The Parks and Beautification Department will orchestrate the revamping of a sign, add an updated irrigation system, and install Louisiana native plants.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) is the state’s leading anti‐litter and community improvement organization focused on achieving a cleaner, greener Louisiana through education, enforcement, public awareness, and community engagement. KLB is affiliated with the national organization, Keep America Beautiful, and is supported by a robust statewide network of Community Affiliates and University Affiliates. Learn more at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.
