Published: May 29, 2008 12:37 pm         

KVCB funds 38 beautification projects

DANVILLE — Local grant money will fund 38 projects to beautify communities across Vermilion County this year.

Applications came to the organization from all areas of Vermilion County, according to Keep Vermilion County Beautiful Director Lynn Wolgamot.

“We are presenting $10,500 to 38 of the 49 community projects submitted to us this year,” Wolgamot said.

Requests totaled $20,720.

“This is the third year of our community grant program, and we are thrilled with its success,” she said.

Beautification grants are being given to 14 communities this year including: Bismarck, Belgium, Danville, Elwood Township, Fairmount, Fithian, Georgetown Township, Georgetown, Hoopeston, Jamaica, Muncie, Ridge Farm, Rossville and Westville.

Twelve school projects in Bismarck, Georgetown, Danville, Hoopeston, Jamaica and Ridge Farm were awarded funding for flowers and landscaping projects.

Two county libraries in Georgetown and Ridge Farm and four parks in Bismarck, Danville’s Elmwood Park, AMBUCS and Rotary Park in Hoopeston were awarded funds.

Other projects included grants to Westville Depot, Hoopeston Regional Health Center, Vermilion Manor Foundation, the Rossville Community Organization, Vermilion County Animal Shelter, Bunker Hill Herb Garden, Boys & Girls Club, Danville Art League, U of I Extension and Vermilion County Health Department.

St. James United Methodist Church won funding to help with some landscaping at its Habitat for Humanity house. The Catlin United Methodist Church received funds again to plant flowers at Vermilion Manor Nursing Home and the Georgetown Ladies Club will use the funding they receive for a WWII Memorial Garden.

“We were very impressed with how unique some of the projects are, including Eagle Scout Griffin DeYoung’s project to build a welcome sign for Fithian,” Wolgamot said.

According to Wolgamot, KVCB’s membership embraces the concept of individual responsibility for community environ-ments.

“The growing popularity of this community grant program shows Vermilion County residents ‘get’ what we’re talking about, and they are stepping up to improve neighborhoods and communities all across Vermilion County,” she said.

An Illinois Environmental Protection Agency grant, along with the money raised annually through a local landscape raffle provides the funding for the community grant program.

KVCB is an all volunteer anti-littering program that is based out of the Vermilion County Health Department. The group sells annual $100 memberships to businesses, governments, civic organizations, neighborhood groups and individuals to pro-mote litter prevention, beautification and source reduction.

For more information about KVCB and its programs, call Wolgamot at the Vermilion County Health Department, 432-2662 or e-mail her at: lwolgamo@vchd.org or visit the health department’s Web site at http://www.vchd.org.