Keep America Beautiful Announces $220k in Grants to Beautify MLK Communities

Applications accepted through February 16, 2025, for Sixth Annual MLK Corridor Community Grant program, sponsored by Target and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation

Murals in Flint, Michigan, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were brought to life with funding from Keep America Beautiful’s MLK Community Corridor Grant and support from Keep Genesee County Beautiful.

STAMFORD, Conn. (January 17, 2025) – Keep America Beautiful® (KAB) announced it is accepting applications for the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Corridor Community Grants to revitalize and beautify roads​,​ neighborhoods, and parks in or adjacent to areas named in honor of the civil rights leader. The program is supported by Target and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation.

Across the nation, more than 950 MLK corridors connect diverse neighborhoods and bustling commercial districts. However, many of these vital pathways are in under-resourced communities, underscoring the need for revitalization and collective action. The MLK Corridor Community Grants empower communities nationwide to enhance these areas by creating gardens and green spaces, painting murals, removing litter and debris, and installing recycling infrastructure​.​

Three stunning murals by artist Javier Arreguin grace Franklin County, celebrating local history and honoring the leaders who have shaped the community. Made possible in part by the 2024 KAB MLK Community Corridor Grant awarded to Keep Franklin County Beautiful, these vibrant artworks bring pride and inspiration to the heart of the community.

From 2020 to 2024, KAB awarded over $530,000 in grants to communities, engaging thousands of volunteers in neighborhood improvement projects along or near MLK Boulevards with an impact reaching more than two million people.

“Martin Luther King Jr. corridors are symbols of hope, resilience, and community,” said Jennifer Lawson, CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Through the MLK Corridor Community Grants, we honor Dr. King’s legacy by supporting community-based efforts to create lasting change through cleanup efforts, beautification projects, and environmental stewardship to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents.”

Grants are available to KAB Affiliates, nonprofits, local governments, and community organizations. Project locations should be along or near MLK corridors, addressing specific community needs and promoting inclusion and self-determination. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $20,000.

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About Keep America Beautiful®:

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. Join us on Facebook (opens in a new tab), Instagram (opens in a new tab), X (opens in a new tab), LinkedIn (opens in a new tab), and YouTube (opens in a new tab). Donate and take action at kab.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

McCall Vrydaghs

Keep America Beautiful®