GRANT PROGRAMS
The Polk County Appearance Commission is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of our community through a variety of grant programs. Our initiatives empower local organizations and residents to undertake projects that improve public spaces, from tasteful landscaping to the vital task of combating invasive species. We are proud to offer multiple funding opportunities that support our mission of a Clean, Beautiful, and Inviting Polk County.
Beautification Grants
The Polk County Appearance Commission offers Matching Grants to nonprofits for public beautification projects, encouraging tasteful landscaping and creative improvements that enhance public spaces. Since 2016, these grants have supported a variety of community enhancements and are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning July 1st, with projects needing to be completed and reported on by May 31 the following year.
Kudzu Grants
The Polk County Appearance Commission offers Matching Grants to towns and nonprofits for kudzu eradication in highly visible public areas, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis starting July 1st. To apply, organizations must submit a detailed budget and a plan for long-term control, with the option to use in-kind labor to meet the recommended 25% match.
New Kudzu Inventory Program
The Polk County Appearance Commission has received a grant to create an inventory of kudzu in the county and to educate the public on its eradication. This initiative, funded by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, aims to combat the aggressive, invasive vine that is displacing native plants and threatening local biodiversity.
