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Florida Forest Service Now Accepting Applications for Urban and Community Forestry Grant Programs

June 23, 2020

By: Staff Report

Jun 23, 2020

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Florida Forest Service announced that applications are now being accepted for three urban and community forestry grant programs.

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Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried

“Urban forestry accounts for over 80,000 jobs and contributes more than $8 billion to Florida’s economy,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Now is the time for our cities and towns to take advantage of these opportunities. Restoring and sustaining our urban forests is vital to improving the livability of Florida’s communities and the quality of life of our residents.”

The Hurricane Michael Urban and Community Forest Recovery Grant offers financial assistance to impacted communities for recovery projects such as planting trees, conducting a tree inventory or canopy assessment, and completing an urban forest management plan. This program is available to local governments, educational institutions, Native American tribal governments, and nonprofit groups located in the 18 federally-declared counties impacted by Hurricane Michael. Qualified participants may apply for up to $50,000. Applications for this program will be accepted until Aug. 21, 2020.

The Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program is part of Florida’s ongoing initiative to increase and protect existing tree canopies in developed areas. The program is offered for projects implemented on public lands in all Florida counties. The categories for this year’s program are tree planting, tree inventories, canopy assessment, management planning, and educational outreach. Qualified participants may apply for up to $20,000. Applications for this program will be accepted until Aug. 21, 2020.

The Managing Community Forests Grant Program aims to help communities develop an urban forest management program. The program includes funding up to $55,000 for three projects over a three-year period and is designed for communities in all Florida counties with a population between 10,000 and 100,000. Applications for this program will be accepted until Aug. 21, 2020.

“Urban trees and community forests are essential to the health of Florida’s cities and residents,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “Cost-sharing programs like these provide the necessary resources to actively manage Florida’s urban forests.”

To submit a proposal or to learn more, click here to visit the Florida Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program webpage or contact your local Florida Forest Service County Forester. All qualifying applications will be evaluated and ranked for approval.

The Hurricane Michael Urban and Community Forest Recovery Grant is funded through the USDA Forest Service’s Hurricane Michael Disaster Recovery Supplement. The Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program and the Managing Community Forests Grant Program are both funded through the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program which provides resources to local governments, educational institutions, Native American tribal governments and nonprofit groups for urban forestry projects within their communities.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.

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