The Community Forestry Catalyst Fund (“CF2”) welcomes proposals that directly support tree planting projects or increase the capacity of organizations to scale up their tree planting and maintenance initiatives in overburdened, underserved communities across the state.
Donor Name: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Maryland Forest Service is offering a new grant program to distribute $4.8 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act funds towards urban and community forestry projects during the next four years.
The goal of the CF2 program is to reduce barriers to tree planting and provide local partners with flexible access to a source of funds that can be leveraged to secure additional resources without requiring matching funds.
The Community Forestry Catalyst Fund expands resources for Maryland’s ambitious commitment to enhance its forest cover and tree canopy through the state’s 5 Million Trees for Maryland initiative and existing programs, like the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Urban Trees Grant Program. These programs prioritize tree plantings where they can provide the greatest benefits to people, such as heat island abatement, air quality regulation, and flooding reduction.
What projects are eligible for CF2 awards?
Projects selected for funding must directly or indirectly result in trees being planted in overburdened, underserved communities across the state.
100 percent of work must take place in, or benefit, disadvantaged communities and, therefore, match is waived. This match waiver must be passed on to any sub-awardees.
Proposals can be submitted under one or more of the following funding tracks:
- Track A: Site Readiness. Example activities include, but are not limited to: stump removal, hazardous tree removal, vegetation removal, concrete removal leading to replacement tree planting.
- Track B: Implementation. Tree planting projects require pre-application technical assistance from the Maryland Forest Service or an authorized representative from one of the 5 Million Trees for Maryland partnership agencies.
- Track C: Capacity Building. Example activities include, but are not limited to: staff or contractual support, workforce development, expansion or creation of new pilot programming.
Funding Information
The Maryland Forest Service welcomes proposals spanning a broad range of costs from eligible entities working at a community, municipal, regional, and watershed scales. The minimum and maximum funding amount for projects are listed below, by track:
- Track A: minimum: $5,000 / maximum: $50,000
- Track B: minimum: $5,000 / maximum: $50,000
- Track C: minimum: $5,000 / maximum: $250,000 per year.
Eligibility Criteria
Entities eligible to apply include:
- Local government entity
- Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations as defined in 25 USC 5304 (l) and operating within the United States, or its territories
- Non-profit organizations
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Community Based Organization, defined as a public organization that supports and/or represents a community and/or certain populations within a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders.
For more information, visit MDNR.
