The Department of Natural Resources today announced the availability of applications for the 2014 Community Forestry Grants program.
The applications to request support for urban and community forestry activities are available from the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program. The grants are funded through the USDA Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry program.
Local units of government, nonprofit organizations, schools and tribal governments are eligible and encouraged to apply for the grants, which can be used for a variety of projects including:
Street and park tree management and planning activities.
Urban forestry and arboriculture-related training and education events.
Tree plantings.
Arbor Day celebrations and materials.
“Trees provide many benefits to our communities, including shade, oxygen and improved property values,” said Kevin Sayers, Urban Community Forestry program coordinator. “The past winter was particularly hard on the trees in many communities. These grants will help to improve management of the urban forest and replace many trees lost due to disease, insects and harsh weather.”
Grant applications must be received by Sept. 12, 2014. Projects awarded funding must be completed by Sept. 1, 2015. All projects must be performed on public land or land that is open to the public.
A total of up to $100,000 is available for projects statewide. Depending on the project type, applicants may request grants up to $20,000. All grants require a one-to-one match of funds, which can be made of cash contributions or in-kind services, but cannot include federal funds.
For a grant application or more information, visit the DNR website at www.mi.gov/ucf, contact Kevin Sayers at 517-284-5898 or sayersk@michigan.gov, or write to DNR Forest Resources Division, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909-7952.
Source: DEQ
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