Request for Applications for 2024 Colorado IRA Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program
The Colorado Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Grant Program are dedicated to enhancing the urban forest canopy and management within disproportionately impacted (DI) communities across Colorado.
Donor Name: Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS)
State: Colorado
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/31/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
This new grant program is designed to grow the tree canopy in disadvantaged areas of Colorado. Eligible projects will prioritize capacity building and community engagement to improve forest canopies in disproportionately impacted (DI) areas, identified through the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool under the federal Justice40 Initiative. Projects must occur within or adjacent to DI areas and can include the following activities:
$1.6 million is available for the 2024 grant cycle. The CSFS reserves the right to award full or partial funding to successful applicants. Grants are provided in two levels: $20,000 to $99,999 and $100,000 to $250,000.
Qualifying Projects
Qualifying projects will include tree planting, pruning, removal, watering and irrigation installation and must occur within DI boundaries or be immediately adjacent to them, according to USDA Forest Service guidance. Additionally, projects will include urban forest management plans, capacity building activities, urban wood utilization, tree inventories and green career development within and around DI areas. While the primary focus remains on DI communities, projects may extend to surrounding neighborhoods to ensure comprehensive planning of urban forest areas.
In addition, qualifying projects will show a comprehensive approach to outreach within DI areas to ensure that the opinions, preferences and choices of residents help direct the final outcomes of the project. No grantee will be allowed to plant trees using grant funds within the first six months after receiving final approval, to allow for outreach activities to residents, training of Tree Stewards (volunteers within DI neighborhoods), and proper timing on selection and tagging of trees at nurseries. Tree removals and pruning, forest management plans, forest inventories and green career development projects will also require metrics for outreach in DI areas as part of project outcomes.
Projects may include tree planting, removals and pruning on private property in DI areas. To perform any activities on private property, grantees must obtain permission from the property owner, along with a liability release form for their organization and the CSFS. The permission and liability release can be obtained during the project, but language should be included in the project proposal to ensure this is completed.
Eligibility Criteria
Nonprofit organizations and local government entities including, but not limited to, municipalities, counties, cities, schools, special districts, LLCs representing neighborhood groups and tribal agencies or programs are eligible to apply for Colorado IRA UCF grant funding.
In addition, all applicants must be able to function as the fiscal agent or have a designated fiscal agent, and nonprofits must be registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
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