Governor Bredesen Announces Roadscapes Grants for Ten Tennessee Cities

Grants awarded through TDOT’s Environmental Division

Nashville, TN -- Governor Phil Bredesen announced $486,916 in Tennessee Roadscapes Grants today will be awarded to ten Tennessee cities.  The grants will be used to assist local communities with landscaping improvements to area roadways.

Communities receiving Roadscapes grants are (click on the link for individual press releases on each grant):

Cleveland in Bradley County        City of Humbolt in Gibson County
City of Dayton in Rhea County         City of Lebanon in Wilson County
City of Ducktown in Polk County      City of Lexington in Henderson County
Town of Guys in McNairy County     City of Newport in Cocke County
City of Hohenwald in Lewis County  Spring City in Rhea County
 

“These grants help local governments enhance roadways to create more welcoming entrances to their communities,” said Bredesen.  “Well-planned landscaping programs create an inviting atmosphere that can boost local economies and improve the quality of life for citizens.”

The Tennessee Roadscapes initiative was developed in 2006 as a partnership between community organizations across the state and TDOT to create inviting spaces through an integrated approach to roadside landscaping. TDOT funds 80 percent of the cost of a project with the grant recipient contributing the remaining 20 percent. Grants are derived from federal funds that are specifically earmarked for roadway enhancement projects.

“The Roadscapes program creates an opportunity to showcase the roadways and natural beauty of our state,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “It’s important to create welcoming places for people to live and work and to build a sense of pride in one’s community.”

The Tennessee Roadscapes program includes a variety of environmental stewardship and beautification programs:

Landscaping with naturalized flowers and native flowering trees
Memorials and parks
Roadside tree planting
Exotic and invasive plant removal
Litter cleanup and prevention education programs
Adopt-A-Highway and Adopt-A-Spot programs
Community landscaping at intersections, street corners, medians, entrances, and gateways


For more information about the Tennessee Roadscapes program, please visit us  on the web at www.tn.gov/tdot/roadscapes.

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Media Contact:
Julie Oaks
TDOT Public Information Officer
615-741-9930
Julie.A.Oaks@tn.gov