2020 Urban and Community Forestry Grants

Delaware’s Urban and Community Grant Program awarded over $31,000 for nine community tree projects.

Forest Landing community forestry grant
Urban forestry director Kesha Braunskill (at right) met with residents at Forest Landing in Frankford, Sussex County to discuss their tree project. The community received a matching grant for $1,739.

 

Contact: Kesha Braunskill
Urban and Community Forestry Program
kesha.braunskill@delaware.gov 

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Grant Program has awarded more than $31,000 to fund nine community tree projects in all three counties. The program offers up to $5,000 in annual competitive matching grants for projects on public land and community open space, and grants are available to all municipalities, homeowner associations, and nonprofit organizations in the First State. Successful applications were approved by a committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Since the grant program began, Delaware’s urban and community forestry program has given over 575 grants totaling more than $1.75 million and planted more than 13,000 trees.

Community City County Award
Pencader Cemetery Glasgow New Castle $5,000
Riverview, Wilmington, Brandywine,
& Old Swedes Cemeteries
Wilmington New Castle $2,500
Westover Hills Section C Wilmington New Castle $900
Champions Club at Jonathans Landing Magnolia Kent $5,000
Elizabeth W. Murphey School Dover Kent $3,810
Villages at Five Points Lewes Sussex $5,000
Milford Riverwalk Milford Sussex $2,109
Forest Landing Frankford Sussex $1,739
Total $31,058

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


Urban and community forestry grants available

Up to $5,000 in grants for community tree planting or tree inventory projects.


The Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Program is offering grants up to $5,000 for tree planting projects on public land or to help communities complete a professional tree inventory. The competitive grants – open to all 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, 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 one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (professional tree inventory only). Interested applicants must schedule a site visit with Delaware Forest Service urban forestry staff before applying and submit their application using the online form.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2019.

Thanks to federal funding, more than $50,000 will be available for grants. In 2018, the program awarded more than $58,000 for 16 tree projects.

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.

“Community forests are critical to our quality of life. 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 is designed to help communities harness these many benefits. Tree projects can generate positive and lasting effects for years to come while also bringing 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.


Delaware urban forestry grant application link

** Online applications require a Google Account.
Read instructions here  on how to set up an account.



Guidelines and Forms

  • 2019 Grant Requirements and Application (PDF) (Word)
  • 2019 Volunteer Tracker Form (Excel)
  • Final Signature Page – Required (Word)

Resource Links

Core Requirements

  • Grant requests from a minimum of $500 to maximum of $5,000
  • Only one project submission in one category: tree planting or tree management (inventory)
  • Project must take place on public land or community open space
  • Applicants must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) – no payment will be made to individuals.
  • All applicants must schedule a site visit before submitting project

Scheduling Site Visits

  • Contact: Kesha Braunskill at kesha.braunskill@delaware.gov
  • Contact: Michael Martini at michael.martini@delaware.gov
  • Site visit MUST be scheduled a minimum of a week in advance
  • No site visits will be done after February 22, 2019
  • Appointments will be made on first-come first-serve basis
  • Final day to make an appointment will be February 15, 2019

Delaware Forest Service awards $58,000 for 16 tree planting projects

DOVER – The Delaware Forest Service has awarded $58,244 to fund 16 tree planting projects throughout the First State. Since 2007, the agency has given more than $1.7 million to cities, towns and homeowner groups to support community tree efforts that take place on public lands. Recipients provide a 50-50 cost-share match in either non-federal funds or in-kind services such as volunteer time, equipment, or donated supplies.

“These urban forestry grants are a central part of our agency’s efforts to meet our statewide program goals. Tree planting projects help to bring people together, build awareness about the importance of proper tree care in community settings, and highlight the many benefits of increasing tree canopy,” said Kesha Braunskill, Delaware Forest Service’s urban and community forestry director.

Delaware’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program is a competitive process open to all municipalities, community associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in the State of Delaware. Funds can only be utilized on public property owned by the municipality, HOA, or nonprofit organization. Grants ranged from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in two project categories: tree planting or tree management. Applications were limited to one project in one category and were judged on a competitive basis by the grant committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Eligible projects must be performed on public lands within the community. Priority was given to first time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities, and applicants that have passed an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution (only applies to Municipalities).

2018 Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Grants

Community or Municipality City or Town County Amount
Town of Elsmere Elsmere New Castle $5,000
Spring Arbor Community Association Middletown New Castle $5,000
Academy Hill – Phase V Newark New Castle $5,000
Westover Hills – Section C Wilmington New Castle $1,350
Highlands Community Association Wilmington New Castle $1,645
City of Dover Dover Kent $1,350
Longacre Village Dover Kent $3,190
Spring Meadow Community Smyrna Kent $5,000
Delaware Botanic Gardens, Inc Dagsboro Sussex $5,000
Town of Ellendale Ellendale Sussex $2,345
The Village of Five Points Lewes Sussex $3,000
Bay Crossing Lewes Sussex $3,695
City of Lewes Lewes Sussex $3,921
James Farm Ecological Preserve Ocean View Sussex $4,978
The Grande at Canal Pointe Rehoboth Beach Sussex $3,475
The Meadows at Old Landing Rehoboth Beach Sussex $4,295
TOTAL $58,244

For more information, contact Kesha Braunskill, kesha.braunskill@delaware.gov or 302-698-4578.

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Delaware Forest Service awards $58,409 in urban and community forestry grants

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Forest Service’s urban and community program has awarded $58,409 in grants to 22 municipalities, HOA’s, and nonprofits to fund planting and management projects to improve tree canopy on public lands and open space in the First State. Over the past 10 years, the program has funded more than $1 million in community-based tree projects in Delaware.

Funded by the U.S. Forest Service, Delaware’s Urban and Community Grant Program is open to all municipalities, community associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations within the State of Delaware. Funds can only be utilized on public property owned by the municipality, HOA, or nonprofit organization. Grants can range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management. All applications require a 50-50 cost-share match in either cash or in-kind services within program guidelines. Applications were limited to one project in one project category and were judged on a competitive basis by a grant committee of the Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Council. Eligible projects must be performed on public lands within the community. Priority is given to first time applicants, Tree City USA’s, Tree Friendly Communities, and applicants that have passed an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution (only applies to Municipalities).

EVALUATION CRITERIA

All grants were ranked according to the following criteria:

  1. Overall project quality/community need
  2. Project encourages sustainable urban forestry through management planning, proper tree care or sustaining/ maintaining urban tree canopy.
  3. The project mitigates tree hazard(s) – applicable only for management grants
  4. Increases tree canopy – applicable only for planting grants
  5. Applicant has worked with DFS on a project to address DFS state forest strategies
  6. Municipality has an implemented an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution (Municipalities) or is a current Tree Friendly Community

The Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is committed to providing a range of technical and informational assistance to residents of communities in the First State.

For more information, contact:
Kesha Braunskill, Delaware Forest Service (DFS) Urban Forestry Administrator
Office: (302) 698-4578, Kesha.Braunskill@delaware.gov

Applications for the next round of grants will be available early in 2018.

List of 2017 Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Grants:

TREE PLANTING GRANTS
Community, HOA, or Nonprofit County Amount
Fairthorne New Castle $2,658.00
Tavistock Civic Association New Castle $2,260.00
Highlands Community New Castle $1,683.00
Albert Einstein Academy New Castle $1,339.00
Port Penn Augustine Beach New Castle $780.00
Town of Smyrna Kent $4,150.00
Dover Air Force Base Kent $4,000.00
City of Rehoboth Sussex $5,000.00
Sterling Crossing Sussex $4,861.00
The Meadows at Old Landing Sussex $4,000.00
City of Lewes Sussex $2,878.00
Sugar Maple Farms Sussex $2,500.00
Total $36,109.00
TREE MANAGEMENT GRANTS
Community, HOA, or Nonprofit County Amount
Edenridge I & II New Castle $4,200.00
Old Swedes Church New Castle $4,000.00
Alapocas New Castle $3,300.00
Pembrey New Castle $2,114.00
Foxfire Homeowners Association New Castle $2,062.00
Village of Ardencroft New Castle $1,966.00
Village of Arden New Castle $1,680.00
Carrcroft New Castle $1,258.00
Arden Club New Castle $255.00
Rehoboth Art League Sussex $1,465.00
Total $22,300.00