Urban Forestry Grants Up to $5,000 Now Available

 

The urban forestry grant program has provided $1.79 million for 577 grants and planted over 14,000 trees. In 2020, the Delaware Forest Service provided more than $65,000 for 17 tree projects in the First State. 

de.gov/treegrantdashboard

Delmar tree project

Delmar tree planting project 2
PHOTO: This tree planting project in the Town of Delmar was funded by a Delaware Forest Service urban and community grant.

 

DOVER, Del. — Delaware’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is once again offering competitive matching grants up to $5,000 for tree planting or tree management projects on public land. The grants – open to municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profits in the State of Delaware – require a 50-50 match in either cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services, including volunteer or staff time, equipment rental, or supplies. Requests can range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (i.e., professional tree inventory, hazardous tree removal, or pruning).

This year’s application deadline is Friday, March 5, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

Applications will be judged on a competitive basis by a grant committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Eligible projects must be performed on public lands within the community. Priority will be given to first time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities, and applicants that have passed an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution (only applies to Municipalities). Complete details at delawaretrees.com.

“Our annual community grants are focused on increasing tree canopy in Delaware by promoting quality tree planting and management projects,” said Kesha Braunskill, Urban and Community Forestry Program Director. “These projects can be the basis for sustainable urban and community forestry programs throughout the First State. Everyone can enjoy the numerous benefits that trees have to offer: air and water quality improvement, increased property values, and natural beauty.”

  • All applicants are REQUIRED to schedule an on-site visit by U&CF program staff, who can review their project and answer any questions.
  • Site visits must be requested no later than February 19 and all visits completed by February 26.
  • All applicants MUST use the ONLINE form (see link below) to submit their forms and attach all of the necessary documentation (plan, bids, estimates, etc.). Applicants should be prepared to complete the form in one sitting: there is no way to ensure your information will be saved and returned to later.
Apply for urban grant
click the image to go to the online form

2021 Guidelines and Forms

Resource Links

Core Requirements

  • Grant requests from a minimum of $500 to maximum of $5,000
  • Grants must be matched with cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services such as volunteer hours
  • One project in one category: planting or management (professional inventory, pruning, or hazardous tree removal)
  • Project must take place on public land or community open space
  • Applicants must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) – no payment made to individuals.
  • All applicants must schedule a site visit before submitting project (contact emails below)

Urban Forestry Program Contacts

Tree grant dashboard

Tree Grant Dashboard

The Urban and Community Forestry Tree Grant Dashboard page provides a visual overview of the history of Delaware’s tree grants. Since its inception, the grant program has awarded 577 grants totaling more than $1.79 million—resulting in the planting of more than 14,000 trees. Details includes the locations and dates of specific grant projects by county, legislative map, or school district.  http://de.gov/treegrantdashboard.

The comprehensive database can list charts of the grants by year, county, and legislative district. The map to the right of the dashboard also allows viewers to zoom in to various parts of the state and then view specific projects by clicking on the blue dot.

As part of its mission, several informative publications, resources, and links are available to help with proper planning and developing effective strategies for tree planting, care, and management.

Email: Kesha Braunskill

Urban Forestry Grants Up to $5,000 Available

Since its inception, Delaware’s urban and community forestry grant program has awarded 568 grants for more than $1.75 million and planted more than 13,000 trees.

 

 

DOVER, Del. — Delaware’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program is once again offering up to $5,000 in matching funds for tree planting or tree management projects on public land or community open space. The competitive grants – open to all municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profits in the State of Delaware (including churches and schools) – require a 50-50 match in either cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services, which includes volunteer or staff time, equipment rental, or supplies. Requests can range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in only one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (i.e., professional tree inventory, hazardous tree removal, or pruning). 

Application deadline is March 6, 2020.

Applicants are required to schedule a site visit to review their project, according to the following guidelines:

  1. Site visit MUST be scheduled a minimum of a week in advance
  2. No site visits will be done after February 22, 2020
  3. Appointments will be made on a first come first serve basis
  4. Final day to make an appointment will be February 15, 2020

This year, applicants must complete their submission in one sitting at the online application link. Grant applicants are encouraged to gather required forms and documents for attachment to the application as the form cannot be saved and completed later. 

2020 Guidelines and Forms

Resource Links

Core Requirements

  • Grant requests from a minimum of $500 to maximum of $5,000
  • Grants must be matched with cash (non-federal funds) or in-kind services such as volunteer hours
  • One project in one category: planting or management (professional inventory, pruning, or removal)
  • Project must take place on public land or community open space
  • Applicants must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) – no payment made to individuals.
  • All applicants must schedule a site visit before submitting project (contact email below)

In 2019, the Delaware Forest Service provided more than $110,000 for 29 tree projects in the First State.

Applications are judged on a competitive basis by a grant committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Eligible projects must be performed on public lands within the community. Priority will be given to first time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities, and applicants that have passed an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution (only applies to Municipalities). Complete details at delawaretrees.com.

“Community trees play a critical role in our daily lives. Trees provide cleaner air and water, wildlife habitat, lower energy costs, natural beauty, and improved property values. The Delaware Forest Service’s urban grant program can help community groups to capture these many benefits for many years to come. Tree projects not only generate positive and lasting changes but also bring residents and volunteers together to make their communities more livable and enjoyable,” said Kesha Braunskill, the Delaware Forest Service urban and community forestry program director.

Urban Forestry Program Contacts

Tree Grant Dashboard

NEW: The Urban and Community Forestry Tree Grant Dashboard page provides a visual overview of the history of Delaware’s tree grants. Since its inception, the grant program has awarded 568 grants totaling more than $1.75 million—resulting in the planting of more than 13,000 trees. Details includes the locations and dates of specific grant projects by county, legislative map, or school district.  http://de.gov/treegrantdashboard.

The comprehensive database can list charts of the grants by year, county, and legislative district. The map to the right of the dashboard also allows viewers to zoom in to various parts of the state and then view specific projects by clicking on the blue dot.

As part of its mission, several informative publications, resources, and links are available to help with proper planning and developing effective strategies for tree planting, care, and management.

Email:
Kesha Braunskill

Delaware Forest Service awards $92,000 in grants for community tree projects

Contact: Kesha Braunskill, Urban and Community Forestry Program Director, (302) 698-4578
kesha.braunskill@delaware.gov 

DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Program has awarded more than $92,000 for 24 tree projects throughout the First State. In the past 15 years, the annual grant program has provided more than $1.5 million to help communities increase tree canopy and promote the natural benefits of trees: cleaner air and water, increased property values and civic pride, and reduced storm water runoff and flooding. The grants, selected by a committee of Delaware’s Community Forestry Council, require a 50-50 cost-share match in cash or in-kind services, such as volunteer time, equipment, or supplies.

The program is open to any city, town, community group, homeowner association, or certified nonprofit organization in the State of Delaware. Awards ranged from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (tree inventory only). Projects must be completed on public lands in the community. Priority was given to first-time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities, and municipalities with an urban tree canopy resolution.

 

PHOTO: Breakwater in Lewes got a $5,000 Delaware Urban and Community Forestry grant to plant 56 trees and 46 shrubs in eight locations, including a buffer near Breakwater Junction Trail. The Delaware Forest Service assisted with the project.


PHOTO: This tree planting at Breakwater in Lewes was funded by $5,000 from Delaware’s Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Urban and Community Grants

Community Name County Award
City of Newark New Castle $895.00
Alapocas New Castle $1,800.00
Westover Hills Section A New Castle $2,150.00
Village of Ardentown New Castle $2,252.00
The Village of Fountainview New Castle $3,000.00
Village of Arden New Castle $3,372.30
Piedmont Baseball and Softball League New Castle $5,000.00
Westover Hills Section C New Castle $5,000.00
Wynthorpe Maintenance Corp. New Castle $5,000.00
Town of Smyrna Kent $4,000.00
Spring Meadows Kent $5,000.00
City of Lewes Sussex $1,225.91
Bayside Fenwick Island Sussex $1,638.00
Shoreview Woods Sussex $3,442.40
James Farm – Inland Bays Sussex $4,342.50
Town of Dagsboro Sussex $4,400.00
Meadows of Village at Old Landing Sussex $4,681.00
Breakwater – Lewes Sussex $5,000.00
Grande at Canal Pointe Sussex $5,000.00
Holland Mills Sussex $5,000.00
Long Neck Shores Sussex $5,000.00
Total $77,199.11

Chesapeake Bay Grants

Three of the grants, totaling about $5,000 each, were awarded to the City of Seaford’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the Seaford Historical Society’s Ross Plantation, and Trap Pond Partners in Laurel. Seaford and Laurel are located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the largest estuary in the United States and a high-priority for projects to improve water quality.

Community Name County Award
Ross Plantation – Seaford Historical Society Sussex $4,999.43
City of Seaford – Dept. of Parks and  Rec. Sussex $5,000.00
Trap Pond Partners Sussex $5,000.00
Total $14,999.43


PHOTO: Delaware Forest Service staff helped auger the holes for a tree planting at Breakwater near Lewes.