Municipalities looking to beautify their community can apply for $2,000 to help complete a project.

Marlyn Kissner, executive director of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation announced that the Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation Grant application period is now open.

“This is for different beautification projects throughout the county,” she said, adding that the grant is available up to $2,000 and is a matching grant.

The project can be anything as long as it is beautifying an area.

Last year, Carbon County secured one of the grants to complete its gateway to Jim Thorpe project at the entrance to the borough on Susquehanna Street, and Lansford obtained funds for its welcome signs, Kissner said.

For more information on the grant requirements and for an application, visit the CCEDC office at 137 South St., Lehighton.

The deadline to apply is the end of May.

In other CCEDC matters, Kathy Henderson, director of economic development, said that CCEDC just completed the first ever Carbon County Return on Environment Study. The in-depth study was made possible through a partnership with the Wildlands Conservancy and the William Penn Foundation.

She said the project took more than six months and was paid for by a grant from the William Penn Foundation.