Funding is now available to support Kentucky communities hoping to improve local roadways while also supporting the environment.
Grant applications are being sought for projects that use rubber-modified asphalt in order to pave roads and improve roadway performance. Applications must be received by April 1, 2026. This type of asphalt incorporates rubber from finely ground waste tires.
Counties and metro-governments are encouraged to apply. Eligible projects may include chip seal or thin asphalt overlay projects. Chip seal is a pavement surface treatment that combines one or more layers of liquid asphalt with one or more layers of fine material.
Money for the projects comes from the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund, which receives $2 from every new tire sold in the commonwealth. In addition to promoting the development of markets for recycled waste tires, the fund also pays for waste tire collection events, tire dumpsite clean-ups and grants for counties to manage waste tires.
The Energy and Environment Cabinet performs testing and long-term monitoring to assess the effectiveness of rubber-modified asphalt. As a condition of the grant funding, counties agree to pay for the application on a road in their county with similar characteristics to allow for comparison between conventional and rubber-modified asphalt.
For more information, contact Jon Durbin at 502-782-6863 or Jon.Durbin@ky.gov.
Additional information and the grant application are online at https://eec.ky.gov/rla.
Applications must be received by April 1, 2026, via email to Jon.Durbin@ky.gov
