LEXINGTON, KY. — Applications now are being accepted for Kentucky American Water’s 2011 Environmental Grant Program. The program will award as much as $10,000 for innovative programs that improve a community’s water supply or improve, restore, or protect watersheds. Such projects may include wildlife habitat improvement, stormwater management, watershed cleanups, or reforestation efforts.

Since launching the program in 2006, Kentucky American Water has awarded more than $96,710 for environmental projects. Past recipients include the Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community, Bluegrass PRIDE, the Fayette County Conservation District, the Friends of the Arboretum, the Friends of Raven Run, the Friends of Wolf Run, Hamburg Homeowners Association and the Southland Association.

To qualify, a proposed project must be located within Kentucky American Water’s 10-county service area (Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Jessamine, Owen, Scott, and Woodford counties); address a source water or watershed protection need; be completed between May 1 and Nov. 30, 2011; establish a new or innovative program or a significant expansion to an existing program; be carried out by a formal or informal partnership of at least two organizations; and provide evidence of sustainability.

Grant application forms and additional information can be found at www.kentuckyamwater.com in the Ensuring Water Quality section. The deadline for entry is March 25, 2011. Entries should be mailed to Susan Lancho, Kentucky American Water, 2300 Richmond Rd., Lexington, Ky., 40502.