The city of Montague and the Muskegon Conservation District were each among 28 Michigan communities who were awarded a share of $106,680 last week as part of a grant presented by the state department of natural resources, the DTE Energy Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan.
Montague was awarded $3,400 in grant money and the MCD received $4,000.
“We proposed about 40 trees as part of the project,” Montague zoning administrator Steve Coverly said. “That award is just for the purchase of the trees, and the city matches it with the labor to plant them. We’re taking a look at the area around Wilcox Street that was just redone and the sidewalk around here.”
Coverly added that the city will also be planting trees at city parks. Planting is set for this spring.
The grants are distributed annually with the application process taking place over the summer. Consumers Energy has a similar grant program.
MCD will use its $4,000 to purchase and plant 20 trees at the Sullivan Township Park near Ravenna, with support from the Ravenna FFA chapter, in April.
“We will be using a variety of native trees in our project,” MCD executive director Melanie Knapp said.
