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

Delaware tree seminar on Oct. 22 & 23 in Harrington

The Delaware Forest Service’s urban and community forestry program will hold its 9th Annual Delaware Arborist and Tree Care Seminar on October 22 and 23, 2019 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall (18500 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, DE 19952). While targeted primarily to the tree care industry, the event is also open to the public—particularly HOA’s or communities who want to create better communities through healthy trees. The cost is $100 for both days (lunch on the first day and snacks included). Register at this link or click the “online registration” graphic. All major credit cards accepted.

The 2019 Delaware Arborist Seminar Agenda covers one full-day session on Oct. 22 and one half-day session on Oct. 23. Attendees can learn the latest developments in tree care through lectures by academic and industry experts, outdoor demos, and vendor exhibits featuring the newest equipment and technology.

Tree professionals can also earn continuing education credits toward accreditation from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Maryland Licensed Tree Expert, and Delaware pesticide certification.

For more information, contact Kesha Braunskill at kesha.braunskill@delaware.gov.

Delaware Arborist & Tree Care Seminar – Day 1 – October 22

8:15 AM
Update on EAB and Other Insects – Trent Dicks, ArborJet
The latest on emerald ash borer (EAB) in Delaware, emerging threats from insects such as spotted lanternfly, and a range of possible treatments. With 20 years experience in the landscape industry, Dicks has a B.S. from Illinois State and an associate’s in applied horticulture. 

9:15 AM
Signs and Symptoms: Identification of Urban Tree Diseases – Nancy Gregory, University of Delaware
Learn to identify a broad range of tree pests, pathogens, and problems in today’s urban forests. Gregory has an M.S. in plant pathology from Penn State University and serves as the plant diagnostician at U.D. Cooperative Extension.

9:15 AM & 10:30 AM
Drones and Tree Risk Assessment with Outdoor Demo – Dan Staley, Arbor Drone
Drones are an important new tool to survey for insect damage and identify hazard trees. Dan Staley is a certified arborist with Colorado’s Arbor Drone, which has worked with cities in the U.S. and Canada to use drones to find early signs of emerald ash borer and assess risk from hazardous trees.

11:00 AM
Soil Moisture: One of the Most Important Factors for Tree Survival – Wei Zhang, Tree Diaper®
Learn the relationship between soil, moisture and tree survival. Zhang holds a PhD in chemical engineering and is one of the co-founders of Zynnovation, LLC – a Virginia firm that developed the Tree Diaper®, winner of a recent “2019 Cool Products Award.”

Noon – LUNCH (Mission BBQ)

1:00 PM
Road Salt and Urban Forestry – Wei Zhang, Tree Diaper®
Wide use of road salt in northern cities can cause tree discoloration and canopy loss. Learn how to mitigate and prevent the effects through case studies from Baltimore and Richmond. Dr. Wei Zhang was part of the team that helped develop the Tree Diaper® to ensure greater tree survival in harsh urban environments.

1:00 PM
Permaculture and Arboriculture – Joe Murray, Tree Literacy, LLC (2 hours)
Understanding basic permaculture practices can help arborists to assess if they are being conducted properly and if they benefit trees. Murray has a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s in plant pathology and physiology from Virginia Tech, and a master’s in teaching from the University of Richmond.

2:00 PM 
Fall Fertilization and the new Tree-Age R-10 – Trent Dicks, ArborJet
Learn about the benefits of fall fertilization and advances in site applications for Tree-Age, R-10. With 20 years experience in the landscape industry, Dicks has a B.S. from Illinois State and an associate’s in applied horticulture.

3:15 PM 
Delaware’s “Big Tree” Program – Bill Seybold, Delaware Forest Service
Learn about how foresters measure large trees and what factors make a tree a “state champion.” Seybold has a bachelor’s in botany from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in forestry from the University of Minnesota. He oversees Delaware’s forest health program and its “Big Trees of Delaware” list. 

Delaware Arborist & Tree Care Seminar – Day 2 – October 23

8:15 AM
Compartmentalization in Trees – Jason Grabosky, Rutgers University
Learn about the process of compartmentalization in trees and how it influences their overall health from a top urban forestry expert. Grabosky holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal-Poly and both master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell in ornamental horticulture. He received the L.C. Chadwick Award from ISA in 2012 for his contributions to soil design research and also was honored with Rutger University’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2017.

9:15 AM
Evolution and Management of the Urban Forest and Electric Utilities – Stephen Hilbert, Asplundh
Learn from an industry arborist about the evolution of the urban forest alongside modern utility infrastructure that powers today’s information society. Hilbert is an ISA-certified arborist who has a B.S. in forest management from Penn State University. He has extensive industry experience working as an arborist for Bartlett Tree Experts and First Energy.

10:30 AM
Construction Zones/Sidewalks with Trees – Jason Grabosky, Rutgers University
This talk will discuss various approaches to dealing with tree roots and sidewalks in close proximity to each other, as well as how to protect trees during construction events. Through a mix of audience questions and examples, learn how both challenges are influenced by soil volume and the carrying capacity of the site. Grabosky holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal-Poly and both master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell in ornamental horticulture. He received the L.C. Chadwick Award from ISA in 2012 for his contributions to soil design research and also was honored with Rutger University’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2017.

Download a copy of the draft 2019 Delaware Arborist Seminar Agenda that contains the tentative session schedule at this time. This agenda will be updated with more details as the event gets closer.