Project Grant 25DG11083121450

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 8—Southern Region, awarded $250,000 to Kentucky's Energy & Environment Cabinet on September 18, 2025, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act Nursery Vegetation program (CFDA 10.736). This Project Grant, with a completion date of September 17, 2030, supports the modernization and enhancement of tree seedling nursery and tree seed orchard facilities within the Commonwealth. The funding enables capital improvements to nursery and orchard infrastructure, equipment upgrades and maintenance, and operational expenses including salaries, training, travel, and contract labor directly related to seed and seedling production activities.

The award aligns with the broader Bipartisan Infrastructure Law objective to sustain non-federal forest management by strengthening regional nursery capacity and improving the supply of ecologically appropriate plant materials for revegetation and reforestation efforts. All funded activities must demonstrate measurable increases in seed or seedling production capacity. The Cabinet, functioning as Kentucky's specialized environmental and natural resource management entity, is well-positioned to administer this funding given its extensive experience managing federal forestry and conservation grants totaling millions of dollars annually across multiple federal agencies.