The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking applications for its Urban Forestry Startup Grants to support small projects focused on initial steps in community tree care and management.
A long-term goal for applicants should be development of a sustained community tree management program.
Goals
DNR Urban Forestry program goals (derived from WI DNR Division of Forestry Strategic Direction)
Impacting the tree canopy on private property
Developing or updating a tree inventory
Working with partners to develop professional workshops or educational events
Funding Information
The minimum total project cost is $2,000. Grant requests must be between $1,000 and $25,000.
There is no maximum project size; however, a grant award, and therefore reimbursement, is limited to $25,000 for regular Urban Forestry grants, and $5,000 for Startup grants.
Only one startup grant may be awarded to an applicant per year.
Projects begin Jan. 1 and must be completed within one calendar year.
Funding Priorities
Responding to Emerald Ash Borer
Developing or updating a management plan
Developing or updating tree ordinances
Tree planting
Maintenance of trees on public land
Developing a citizen tree board
Furthering staff training
Eligible Projects
Projects must relate to community tree management, maintenance or education within Wisconsin cities, villages or other areas of concentrated development.
Projects by 501(c)(3) organizations must focus on their community’s trees.
Projects may consist of no more than three of the following eight components:
tree planting;
tree pruning;
tree removal;
tree inventory;
insect and disease treatment;
staff training;
urban forestry management plan; and
information/education/outreach (may include forming a tree board, writing a tree ordinance, staff and/or volunteer training, or improving awareness of the importance of community trees and their management).
Eligibility Criteria
Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations who meet two or more of the following conditions:
Starting, or recently started, a community-wide tree care program.
Resuming tree care and management activities that were once a regular community-wide program that ended.
Community tree care (planting, pruning, removal) by staff or contractors is infrequently performed.
Involvement and support for community trees and their care by boards/committees, elected officials, organizations and/or residents is low to non-existent.
There are no trained staff, contractors or volunteers authorized to handle, advise or oversee community tree care and management.
A maximum of three urban forestry startup grants may be awarded to an applicant within the lifetime of the startup grant program. To be eligible for a third startup grant, an applicant must either:
