LANSING – State Representative Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) today announced that the city of Westland will receive $20,000 to help offset the damage left behind by the invasive emerald ash borer.
"The emerald ash borer has devastated our ash population in Wayne County, and I applaud Westland's officials for seeking out solutions that will help mitigate the damage this pest has caused," LeBlanc said. "This grant will help Westland restore some of the natural beauty that has been lost to the ash borer in many of our neighborhoods."
The Emerald Ash Borer Grant Program is federally funded and administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Urban and Community Forestry, and Forest Health Programs. The grants were established with funding from the USDA Forest Service, which was developed to assist Michigan communities affected by the emerald ash borer.
"Programs like these help ensure that our communities are great places to live and raise our families," LeBlanc said.
In Michigan, 21 counties are under an emerald ash borer quarantine, meaning any form of wood from ash trees – including firewood, wood chips, logs, branches, stumps, etc. – cannot be moved outside the areas. For more information on the emerald ash borer, go to www.michigan.gov/eab.