The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications from local units of government and non-profit organizations within Minnesota that will encourage and promote the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources to enhance community forest ecosystem health and sustainability as well as to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and promote energy conservation.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/18/2023
Size of the Grant: $500,000
Details:
Priority will be given to:
- Projects that serve communities with populations less than 20,000.
- Organizations who have staff, who plan to certify their staff during the grant period, or who will contract with companies with staff with professional tree care credentials(such as Minnesota Tree Inspector, International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist, etc.). Any such credentials must be listed on the application to be considered.
- Projects that prioritize emerald ash borer, especially removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant safety concerns.
- Projects that benefit underserved populations and areas of concern for environmental justice (communities with higher populations of low-income residents, or people of color, including tribal communities, or both).
- Projects that maintain or increase tree canopy cover.
Funding Information
The DNR has $6,883,200 available in general fund dollars to fund projects managing forest pest and disease (with priority given to EAB) through community forestry activities on public lands and residential land for low-income residents. There is no minimum to the dollar amount applicants can request. The maximum amount that will be funded is $500,000.
Eligible Activities
- Community forestry work conducted on public land, or on residential land for low-income residents (work on residential land must be conducted by companies or organizations with an ISA Certified Arborist on staff, TCIA accreditation, or equivalent qualification)
- Work conducted by staff or contractors
- Tree inventories
- Developing a management plan, which can include but is not limited to a forestry-related climate adaption plan, all lands management plan, or emerald ash borer management plan
- Tree and stump removal and tree replacement
- Tree planting
- Chemical treatment of ash trees with an injectable non-neonicotinoid insecticide (i.e. emamectin benzoate) if it provides long-term impact or seed funds an intended long-term program in communities up to 10 miles outside of generally infested areas across Minnesota
- Developing a tree ordinance
- Tree cabling, if a long-term evaluation plan is included
- Maintenance pruning
- Urban and community forestry or arboriculture education and outreach
- Professional certifications and/or training related to the proposed project
- Additional plant healthcare treatments, as approved
Eligible Project Expenses
Eligible project expenses are those incurred through project activities that are directly related and necessary to produce the outcomes described in the project application. Grant funds can be used for, but will not be limited to:
- Professional contracts for technical assistance or project implementation by individuals or organizations not a part of the local government unit (including but may not be limited to public tree inventories, management plans, treatment, and tree removal and replanting)
- Staff time for grant recipients
- Site preparation and planting, including trees, mulch, watering bags, staking materials, and tree wrap or guards
- Equipment purchases less than $5,000 that are used to complete the project: multiple pieces of equipment, tools, or project supplies less than $5,000 can be purchased with grant funds, but no one tool can have a unit cost of $5,000 or more (even if that cost is split across grant and match funds)
- Equipment rental
- Gravel bed construction
- Purchasing of trees for diversity
- Materials and staff time used to educate, engage, and conduct outreach to citizens
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and local units of government within Minnesota, including cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers boards, towns, and tribal. Parks and recreation boards in cities of the first class are also eligible to apply.
For more information, visit DNR.
