Shantung maple (Acer truncatum) on Canisius College campus in Buffalo. Photo by Michelle Sutton
QUICK START GRANTS!
“The New York State Urban Forestry Council has taken another major step forward in its mission to support the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Urban and Community Forestry Program. As one of the most active councils in the United States, we are very excited about administering a grant program that is designed to help New York State communities celebrate Arbor Day and make efforts toward attaining Tree City USA status.” —Andy Hillman, President, NYSUFC
The NYS Urban Forestry Council is pleased to announce available funding for projects in small communities (population up to 65,000) to have an Arbor Day event and begin a community forestry program. This funding is provided by the USDA Forest Service and the New York State DEC Urban Forestry Program.
Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to communities or non-profits that work in partnership with municipalities to celebrate Arbor Day 2015 and form a shade tree committee within the municipality.
Communities that are currently a Tree City USA are ineligible, as are communities that have any component of the Tree City USA program such as a tree ordinance; a tree board and an inventory or a management plan. The intention of this grant is to help communities begin a community forestry program.
To apply for a grant, complete the Application (Part 2) on the NYSUFC website. Applications will be scored competitively and awarded from highest to lowest until the funding is exhausted. Awards shall be in the form of a reimbursement grant for eligible Arbor Day program expenses up to a maximum of $1,000, with a portion (50% of the amount requested) allocated to the awardee when the applications are scored and announced. The balance of the grant will be reimbursed once the Arbor Day event has occurred and documented receipts for expenditures are sent.
Eligible expenses are limited to trees, mulch, soil, stakes (if necessary for the site), tree watering devices, and printing of promotional materials. Applications are due by December 2, 2014 and award recipients will be notified the second week of February, 2015.
Resources (people and websites) to use when selecting your trees are available here. A tree list should accompany your application. If you have questions, please contact an Arbor Day Community Grant Committee member listed on the Resources page.
More information about the Quick Start grants is available here, on the NYSUFC web page.
Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) in Highland Park in Rochester. Photo by Michelle Sutton