Through financial support provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program requests proposals for the Trees for Communities Grant Program.
Donor Name: Connecticut Department Energy and Environmental Protection
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 08/31/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Trees for Communities Grant Program addresses the uneven distribution of tree canopy across Connecticut by providing financial support for urban forestry projects in communities of need. Projects must increase tree cover or contribute to other urban forestry objectives such as improvement of forest health or utilization of urban wood. Projects must be rooted in community support and demonstrate efforts to meaningfully incorporate community needs into the project design.
The Trees for Communities Grant Program supports a variety of urban and community forestry projects including but not limited to:
- Tree planting on private lands with permission of landowner
- Engaging groups in urban forest planning and planting
- Work force development
- Invasive species management
- Urban wood utilization
- Impervious surface removal to create space for tree planting
Funding Information
Recipients will be directed to submit monthly reimbursement requests, not to exceed $100,000.
Elgibility Criteria
- Following are eligible grant recipients:
- Grant recipients must have a SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEID)
- Projects must take place in Connecticut.
- Total request amount cannot exceed $200,000
- Eligible lands include:
- State and municipal lands
- Homeowner associations
- Private lands
- Tribal lands
- Ineligible Activities include:
- Research, specifically scientific research or projects that are purely research-based
- Construction, unless part of the site preparation for tree planting such as expanding or creating tree pits
- Land Acquisition o Payment directly to private landowners
- Equipment costing more than $5,000
- Planting of non-woody plant materials (e.g., herbaceous plants)
- Projects must benefit communities identified in DEEP’s Urban Forestry Grant Screening Tool.
- Administrative costs cannot exceed 20% of the total amount requested.
- Projects must be completed within the timeframe determined through the project agreement.
- DEEP reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, modify, or terminate the RFP, or require additional information from applicants.
- All proposals submitted in response to this RFP are to be the sole property of the State.
- Once submitted, no changes to proposals will be allowed unless invited by DEEP to submit a revised application. If there is an opportunity for reconsideration of an application, DEEP will work with the applicant to submit an updated grant application for re-consideration that addresses any deficiencies or issues identified by the review committee.
- Contract Negotiation – Awards will be delivered upon entering into a contract with the State. DEEP reserves the right to negotiate or contract for all or any portion of the services contained in this RFP.
For more information, visit DEEP.
