troyruiz1

California Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act APPLICATION DEADLINE 05/30/2024 In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program awarded $1.5 billion to states, projects, and national initiatives that support urban communities in ensuring equitable access to trees and their benefits via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program is a covered program under President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, established through Executive Order 13985. The Inflation Reduction Act provides up to $1.5 billion for Urban and Community Forestry investments across the nation that foster: 1) Increased and equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities, 2) Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning, tree planting, and management activities, and 3) Improved community and urban forest resilience to climate change, extreme heat, forest pests and diseases, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices. Learn more here.

Community Forestry Assistance Grants APPLICATIONS DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 5TH AT 11:59 PM The Community Forestry Assistance (CFA) Grant Program prioritizes projects that improve urban tree canopies, promoting equitable distribution statewide. Unlike the IRA-funded Urban & Community Forestry Grants, funding is not restricted to disadvantaged communities. CFA grants offer a maximum award of $25,000 with a 20% match requirement, totaling $100,000 allocated for projects across Nevada. Projects funded through this initiative are supported through a collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS). Learn more here.

Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grants APPLICATIONS DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 5TH BY 11:59 PM The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program encourages projects that plant trees and increase the benefits of tree canopy, create and support long-term and sustained urban and community forestry programs, and promote the care of trees in disadvantaged communities throughout Nevada. This program is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and is intended to support new initiatives, programs, projects, staff positions or activities not currently being funded through other sources. Learn more here.

Grants for Community Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M. Funding for projects to enhance urban and community forestry in nature-deprived populations and disadvantaged communities is now available from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry allocation of the Inflation Reduction Act. This request for proposals provides funding assistance to government entities including municipalities, park districts, counties, tribal governments, townships, forest preserves, and other units of local government in Illinois to improve the urban forest. Only entities considered disadvantaged are eligible for funding through this program. To view all eligible areas, please see this map. Learn more here.

Despite any challenges or struggles, I will say that it's so great to see the much needed influx of cash to urban forestry. Lots of potential!!

I would imagine that flexibility with your plans for the award would be important. I bet someone out there has a story to share about this.

If your organization applied for community and urban forestry funding through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), were you surprised by an award amount that differed from your proposal? If so, how are you adapting to the change and what insights can you share with others navigating this challenge?

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding allocation for urban and community forestry will be a tremendous boost for much-need projects around the country. Unfortunately, there are some challenges. Has your organization applied for funding? If so, has it been a struggle knowing what the next steps are and how to prepare now, or a different challenge?

Community Forestry Grants (COMING SOON) APPLICATIONS WILL BE OPENING IN EARLY DECEMBER 2023 AND CLOSING IN MID-FEBRUARY 2024 The Texas A&M Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program helps communities develop sustainable programs that provide Texans with healthy trees and forests. The Texas A&M Forest Service’s Community Forestry Grant Program will soon be accepting proposals for the 2024 competitive grant program. Healthy urban & community forests are essential to the economic, environmental, physical and mental well-being of all Texans. The grant categories for this year include Schoolyard Forests, Community Greening, Municipal Foresters, Tree City USA, Climate Resiliency, Human Health Equity and Accessibility, and Tree Plantings. Eligible entities for community forestry grants must be public or non-profit. Examples include, but are not limited to, State and local governmental agencies, Public education institutions, NGO or non-profit (501c3), Public utility districts (PUD, MUD, etc.). Individuals, businesses and federal agencies are not eligible. Learn more here.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Grant APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 12/22/2023 Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, Community & Urban Forestry has $1.8 million in grant funds available through the USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Grant Projects Tree Inventory or Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Management/Response Plan Education/Training New Tree Planting Community Education/Awareness Events Other activities (See application instructions) Eligible Applicants: Local units of government or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. If awarded, the applicant will enter into a State Grant Agreement and must take responsibility for all aspects of the project through completion. Learn more here.

New York Urban and Community Forestry Grants APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 31ST 2024 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that applications are now being accepted for a total of $12.9 million for urban and community forestry projects through the Inflation Reduction Act funding opportunity. Earlier this month Governor Hochul announced the funding was made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to increase equitable access to healthy trees and green spaces in urban and community forests to support building a clean energy economy, advance environmental justice, and create economic opportunity. Learn more here.

Community Forest Management Plan Implementation in Disadvantaged Communities & Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities Grants DEC’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) program will hold a virtual information session on October 24, 2023 from 1:00–2:30 p.m. about an upcoming unique grant opportunity funded by the federal Inflation Reduction Act. $12.9 million will soon be available for the following projects: $10 million: Community Forest Management Plan Implementation in Disadvantaged Communities; and $2.9 million: Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities. The presentation will include eligible projects, questions and scoring, what qualifies as a disadvantaged community in this grant opportunity, and other information that will help applicants begin planning their project and application. Learn more here.

Tree Resource Enhancement and Engagement (TREE) Grant Program DUE BY NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023 The Department of Forestry and Fire Management – Urban and Community Forestry program is excited to announce the next round for the Tree Resource Enhancement and Engagement (TREE) Grant Program! This program is open ONLY to currently recognized Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA, and Tree Campus K-12 program participants. The intended purpose of this grant is to provide additional support for local community forestry programs. Notifications of awards are anticipated by December 2023. If your community or campus is interested in applying for a 2023 grant, please submit an online application through the eCivis. Learn more here.

Community Challenge Grants DUE BY NOVEMBER 12TH, 2023 The Community Challenge Grants are to be used to promote and enhance the quality of Arizona’s urban and community forests. Research project funding is provided as seed dollars. Projects should be aimed at improving the long-term health and care of the urban forest or at initiating new urban forestry projects in Arizona communities that would not otherwise be funded through existing budgets. Learn more here.

Inflation Reduction Act Funding DUE BY NOVEMBER 26TH, 2023 Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) authorities in the Inflation Reduction Act are covered under the USDA Forest Service’s Justice40 Initiative established through Executive Order 13985. To advance the mission of Justice40, only proposals that support disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CJEST; https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/), will be considered. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management seeks to improve community forest conditions and access to disadvantaged communities, address the backlog of local community forestry work, and position Arizona’s community forests as a valuable piece of mitigating climate change impacts and urban heat. Activities aimed at prioritizing those most vulnerable by increasing tree canopy, long-term tree survival and stewardship, and career opportunities in the face of decreasing water availability, rising temperatures, and fast-paced urban development for residents will be prioritized. Learn more here.