UK will give $10,000 each to 13 projects aimed at improving quality of life in Kentucky, UK President Lee Todd announced yesterday.

The 13 selected projects would join 23 others currently part of the Commonwealth Collaboratives program. Commonwealth Collaboratives uses Todd’s discretionary money to fund programs aimed at improving economic development, health, education, the environment and exposure to cultural events in Kentucky. Each project undergoes annual review to evaluate its progress and effectiveness.

Among the new Commonwealth Collaboratives are The Clean Indoor Air Initiative, which seeks to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and radon by encouraging more Kentucky communities to adopt smoke-free policies, and Land Use Planning, which assigns landscape architecture students to projects aimed at helping local communities manage future growth by developing land-use plans.

Todd and UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy will recognize the new Commonwealth Collaborative researchers at a reception at 4:45 p.m. today in the Lexmark Public Room in the Main Building. The reception is free and open to the public.