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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.

Chicago Region Trees Initiative APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M. Funding for projects to improve forest health resulting from emerald ash borer damage or prevention is available for local units of government in Illinois, including municipalities, townships, county governments, tribal governments, forest preserves, conservation districts, and park districts. Funding is provided by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Morton Arboretum is the grant administrator. Funding for this grant program is contingent on a final agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (pending). Grant awards are available for a minimum of $3,000 and a maximum of $30,000. For all communities, a 1:1 match is required. Projects funded through this proposal must include activities related to improving urban forest health through emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) management or mitigation. In addition, all funded projects must include the development or enhancement of a tree protection ordinance to meet the standard set in the RFP. Learn more here.

Current and Upcoming Grant Opportunities Through 2024 Connecticut’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is gearing up for its most robust menu of grant offerings ever! Nearly $3 million will be available through 2028 to support urban and community forestry projects through the programs outlined below. Each grant program will have different award amounts, eligibility criteria, cost-share requirements, and will support different activities. Check back periodically for request for proposals (RFP), applications, and additional details on these programs. The Urban and Community Forestry program will be holding office hours throughout the fall to help potential applicants navigate grant program criteria and support the proposal development and application process. Check back periodically for office hours and other grant announcements. Learn more here.

2024 Community Forest Assistance Grant Program APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 8TH, 2024 The Washington State Department of Natural Resources began accepting applications Monday for what is by far the largest amount of urban and community forestry grant funding ever offered by the agency. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will distribute up to $7 million to successful applicants via the 2024 Community Forest Assistance Grant Program administered by the DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program (UCF). The dollar figure is 11 times more than the previous single-year record of $550,000 set in 2021, but more than double the total amount awarded to nearly 220 recipients since DNR first began administering UCF grants in 2008. Learn more here.

Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Program APPLICATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31ST, 2023 The Inflation Reduction Act, Subtitle D, Sec. 23003 (a). State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs Appropriations purpose is to provide support for tree planting and related activities under the existing authorities in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (PL 95-313), Section 9. Funding will be made available through competitive subawards to nature-deprived populations and disadvantaged communities for activities such as urban wood utilization, urban food forests, extreme heat mitigation and workforce development. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program is a covered program under the Agency’s Justice40 Initiative established through Executive Order 13985. To advance the mission of Justice40, proposals that deliver 40% of the benefits of IRA investments through established partnerships with local organizations working to support disadvantaged communities will receive priority consideration. Learn more here.

Urban and Community Forestry Grant – Planting, Preservation, and Invasives Control DUE BY NOVEMBER 17TH, 2023 The purpose of Florida’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant – Planting, Preservation, and Invasives Control (UCF- PPI) Program is to provide financial assistance to local governments, Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to initiate or enhance local urban and community forestry programs and improve the urban environment within the state of Florida by providing funding for projects aimed at enhancing community forests. The state of Florida anticipates an allocation of $750,000 for fiscal year 2023. Learn more here.

Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program APPLICATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 24TH 2023 AT 5:00 P.M. Through financial support provided by the USDA Forest Service, DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is requesting proposals for the Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program. Awards are for $2,500 – $65,000, municipalities and non-profit 501(c)3 organization are eligible to apply. The amount requested must be matched 50:50. This match may be a financial match, done through the expenditure of additional funds, or it may be achieved through in-kind contributions of goods or services donated by grant partners, or a combination of both. Learn more here.

Tree Management Insights is here! Tree Management Insights is now live for all Complete TreePlotter INVENTORY subscribers. Learn about the tool and how to use it below. What is Tree Management Insights? We have been working with our consulting services team to build a tool that provides urban foresters and planners with a high-level overview of the health and diversity of their urban forests. The report will provide stats and graphs based on the tree data within your application. Use the tool to learn how your inventory compares to industry standards and share the data to engage your stakeholders and communities. View the Insights The report can be found with all the other reports under the Hub > Stats. Click "Tree Management Insights" to open up the window. Family Added to Species Lists As part of the release, we have also updated all TreePlotter INVENTORY species lists to include a column for Family. This allows us to utilize the 10-20-30 rule and allows users to filter and utilize Family data across the application. Share Your Data The information provided within the report can be saved as a PDF or printed out directly from the tool. Users can add additional notes or context before they save the report to share. Pull the data into your own reports, summaries, or presentations to quickly demonstrate the state of your urban forest. Below are example outputs from the Tree Management Insights report. Tree Management Insights - Best Practices We are also excited to announce the launch of our new Best Practices project aimed at providing users with guidance on how to most effectively utilize the tools across the TreePlotter Software Suite. Look for upcoming updates on the support site in the near future here. To get familiar with Tree Management Insights, click the links below. Technical Guide Tutorial

Virginia Trees for Clean Water (VTCW) Grant Program AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF 2023 The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) has announced the availability of approximately $500,000 in grant funding through the end of 2023 for the Virginia Trees for Clean Water (VTCW) Grant Program. Supported by the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund, the VTCW Grant Program is designed to improve water quality across Virginia by encouraging tree-planting efforts where they are needed most and raise awareness of their benefits. This cycle of grant funds will be used for projects that will be completed by the end of the year (Dec. 31). Grants may be awarded to civic groups, communities, local governments, tribal organizations, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, public educational institutions, and state agencies. Learn more here.

Urban Grants Now Offered by Oklahoma Forestry Services APPLICATIONS DUE BY 5:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 17, 2023 Urban and Community Forestry Grants will be available to Oklahoma communities again this year. The federal grants, administered by Oklahoma Forestry Services, are intended primarily to help communities and non-profits develop local forestry plans, broaden urban forestry programs, and provide training opportunities. The Urban and Community Forestry Grants are available to non-profit organizations, local government agencies, educational institutions, and civic or neighborhood associations. They range from $1,000 to $10,000. Recipients are required to provide matching funds in cash, donations or in-kind contributions and services. Learn more here.

JANUARY 12TH, 2023. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, State, Private & Tribal Forestry, is requesting applications for the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program or CFP). CFP is a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to Indian Tribes, local governments, and qualified conservation non-profit organizations to establish community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest land. The purpose of the program is to establish community forests by protecting forestland from conversion to non-forest uses and provide community benefits including public recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based educational programs. Public access is required for all projects. Learn more here.