PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – September 21, 2023
Contact:
Elise Schadler, Program Manager, VT Urban & Community Forestry Program
Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
elise.schadler@vermont.gov, 802-522-6015
Urban and Community Forestry Grants Now Available to Support Green Infrastructure in Our Communities
Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation’s Urban & Community Forestry Program (UCF) is pleased to announce nearly $500,000 is available through its grant program. UCF’s 2024 grants program is larger than ever before, thanks primarily to an allocation from the USDA Forest Service through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Three distinct grant categories are now open and are accepting applications through January 5, 2024. Municipalities, public educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for all categories. The grant categories are:
- Communities Caring for Canopy: Support a wide range of activities that move local urban and community forestry programs forward. $70,000 is available in awards ranging $5,000 - $20,000. There is a 1:1 cost - share requirement and projects may occur anywhere in Vermont.
- Growing Urban Forests in the Face of Emerald Ash Borer: Supports removal of ash trees and replanting of species other than ash in urban areas and along corridors that lead to downtowns and village centers. $125,000 is available in awards ranging $5,000 - $50,000. There is a 1:1 cost-share requirement and project eligibility is related to proximity to a designated area through the VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development’s State Designation Programs.
- Urban & Community Forestry Grants: These grants will support work in disadvantaged communities to increase and maintain a healthy urban tree canopy and access to nature. $300,000 is available in awards ranging $5,000 - $50,000. There is no cost-share requirement. Projects must take place in or directly serve disadvantaged communities.
To aid in project and application development, UCF has released an interactive 2024 Grants Eligibility Map available at UCF Eligibility. Program staff will also host monthly virtual Grants Office Hours as a chance for potential applicants to ask specific questions regarding grant categories, application development, and the submission process.
Learn more about UCF’s 2024 grant program and apply online: www.vtcommunityforestry.org.
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