The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking applications for its Inflation Reduction Act for Urban and Community Forestry.
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $50,000,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
Inflation Reduction Action of 2022, Public Law No: 117-169. Subtitle D, Sec. 23003 (a). State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs, (2) Urban and Community Forestry (2022-2031) to provide multiyear, programmatic, competitive grants for tree planting and related activities, with a priority for projects that benefit underserved populations and areas through the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance program established under section 9(c) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act Of 1978 (16U.S.C.2105(c))
Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) is a covered program under the Agency’s Justice40 Initiative established through Executive Order 13985. To advance the mission of Justice40, proposals that deliver 40% of the benefits of IRA investments through established partnerships with local organizations working to support disadvantaged communities experiencing low tree canopy and environmental justice will receive priority consideration.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $50,000,000
- Award Floor: $100,000
Performance Period
All funding agreements will be for a period of 5 years. All activities and expenses must be completed within 5 years of award. Funding agreements will not be extended beyond 5 years.
Eligible Lands
Eligible applicants may apply for funding for a project to be conducted on non-Federal lands such as:
- State and local government,
- Homeowner associations,
- Private lands, and
- Tribal/Alaska native corporation (includes Trust lands).
Lands owned or administered by the federal government are not eligible for this funding opportunity except for lands held in trust for Native American Tribes and individuals (hereinafter Trust lands).
Eligible Uses of Funding
Examples of eligible activities include projects that:
- Foster individuals, groups, and organizations in the communities served to become engaged participants in urban forest planning, planting, and management, especially those in disadvantaged communities that do not have adequate resources to install or maintain green infrastructure or are underrepresented.
- Protect, enhance, and expand equitable urban tree canopy cover to maximize community access to human health, social, ecological, and economic benefits particularly in disadvantaged and nature-deprived communities experiencing low tree canopy cover, extreme heat and frequent flooding. Improve and increase access to parks and nature in communities.
- Encourage long-term urban forest planning, assessment, and management.
- Encourage proactive and systematic maintenance and monitoring of urban trees and forested natural areas to improve forest health; assess risk to forests from pests, disease, and adverse climate impacts; and formulate adaptive management strategies to improve forest resilience.
- Advance the use of tree and forest inventories, monitoring, and assessment tools in priority areas, including monitoring and measurement of extreme heat.
- Improve preparation for severe storms and the recovery of damaged or deteriorated landscapes to more healthy and resilient conditions.
- Protect, enhance and increase access to watersheds in urban and developing areas with a focus on conserving and managing forest patches, and green stormwater infrastructure.
- Provide paid training experiences for urban forestry crews to establish and maintain urban forests into the future. Support youth employment opportunities, including workforce development and training for the creation and maintenance of green jobs and economic opportunities for planning, planting, and sustainably maintaining trees and forests, including training and retaining urban arborists, and producing and using urban forest products.
- Develop paid on-the-job training opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships, to expand workforce development pathways for green careers in urban and community forestry.
- Address exotic invasive pest species that adversely impact urban forests.
- Work across jurisdictional boundaries, leveraging ideas and resources to increase capacity to provide equitable access to benefits across the larger landscape and at a greater geographic scale.
- Aid in planning, goal setting, and skill sharing with other professions such as urban planners, engineers, educators, recreational and public health officials
Eligible Applicants
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- City or township governments
- State governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Independent school districts
- Special district governments
Additional Information on Eligibility:
Faith-based non profit organizations.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
