Kentucky LG&E and KU Plant for the Planet Matching Grant Program

Kentucky LG&E and KU Plant for the Planet Matching Grant Program — 2026

LG&E and KU will accept 2026 Plant for the Planet Matching Grant applications in October for eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and local-government programs in the LG&E, KU or ODP service territory. Awards range from $500 to $5,000 for qualifying tree-planting projects. Atlas is holding applicant-specific action until the October portal is live and exact cutoff/submission details are confirmed.

Funding$500 to $5,000 in one-year matching grant funding. Current public guidance does not state a universal match ratio, so Atlas will not infer one.

DeadlineApplications will be accepted in October 2026 through the online grant portal. The current 2026 program page does not publish an exact cutoff clock time or time zone; Atlas will reverify the live portal before applicant-specific action.

Last verified2026-09-22

Required next actionRecheck the LG&E and KU online grant portal when the October 2026 cycle opens; confirm the exact closing date, cutoff time/time zone, required attachments and portal fields; then qualify only eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits or local-government programs in the LG&E, KU or ODP service territory with a demonstrated successful tree-planting history.

Broad Eligibility

Applicant must be in the LG&E, KU or ODP service territory; be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or local-government program; and have a demonstrated history of successful tree planting. Neighborhood associations and religious organizations are ineligible.

Atlas Analysis

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company (LG&E and KU) have confirmed that the Plant for the Planet Matching Grant Program will accept applications in October 2026 for qualifying community tree-planting projects in the LG&E, KU or ODP service territory.

Funding

LG&E and KU offer one-year matching grants from $500 to $5,000. Current public program guidance describes the awards as matching grants but does not publish a universal match ratio, so Atlas will not infer one.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be located within the LG&E, KU or ODP service territory, must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a local government program, and must have a demonstrated history of successful tree-planting efforts. Neighborhood associations and religious organizations are not eligible.

Eligible Project Profile

The program supports urban, suburban or rural tree-planting projects in forests and parks and along parkways or roadways that meet program objectives. Applicants must demonstrate that mature trees resulting from the project will not interfere with utility lines.

Application Window and Submission

The current 2026 program page states that applications will be accepted in October 2026 through LG&E and KU’s online grant portal and that all applications and corresponding documentation must be submitted electronically. The current page does not publish an exact cutoff clock time or time zone. Atlas therefore keeps this record in verification hold until the October portal is live and the exact submission window and required portal materials can be revalidated.

Atlas Analysis

Atlas Opportunity Score: 64/100. This is a legitimate Kentucky community-environment opportunity for eligible nonprofits and local-government programs in the utility service territory, but it is narrow in purpose and award size. N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The program is for tree planting and does not establish a defensible clinical-technology, telehealth, remote-examination or healthcare procurement pathway.