FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2024
Texas
A&M Forest Service offering grants to promote community forests
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—Texas
A&M Forest Service is offering $12.4 million in grant funding through the
Community Forestry Grants program to enhance community forestry initiatives
throughout the state. These grants will help build capacity for community
forestry through workforce development, outreach, canopy enhancements and other
unique project ideas.
These grants are
designed to foster community forestry principles that promote the establishment,
protection and enhancement of community forest ecosystems throughout Texas. Beyond
the climate and ecosystem sustainability benefits that can be created by utilizing
these grants, communities will be able to integrate health and wellness initiatives
as a result of proper tree planting and management.
“The growth and success of
our Community Forestry Grants program has been monumental,” said Mac Martin,
Texas A&M Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program Leader. “The
grants offered through our program are essential to enhancing community
forestry practices that will improve the quality of life for residents now, and
for future generations. This is a strategic program that ensures grants are distributed
in a manner that will have a trusted positive community impact.”
To support these goals, grant
funding is available through six categories: Climate Resiliency, Human Health
Equity and Accessibility, Municipal Forester, Workforce Development, Tree
Planting and Community Greening.
“While we have four
returning grant categories, we are pleased to introduce the Workforce Development
and Community Greening grants this year,” said Martin. “These additions will
help train citizens and students in essential skills for community tree care
and management while also driving transformative placemaking projects in vulnerable
communities through tree canopy expansion.”
The Community Forestry
Grants Program was established in 2022 and grew in 2023 when it awarded $15.4 million to 21 Texas cities, neighborhoods,
non-profit organizations and schools. The grant program is funded in
cooperation with the USDA Forest Service.
Community, civic and
neighborhood groups may apply with an eligible entity as a sponsor. Eligible
entities for these grants must be public or non-profit, including state and
local government agencies, public education institutions, non-government
organizations or non-profits and public utility districts. Individuals and
federal agencies are not eligible. While private industries are not
eligible to apply directly, they can be listed as partners and contracted for
their expertise on proposed projects.
The submission of
applications is now being accepted, and the submission window will close at 4
p.m. CST on Friday, February 14, 2025. Applications are to be completed and submitted
using the application worksheets and submission portal. A Community Forestry
Grants webinar will be held on October 17, 2024, at 11 a.m. to discuss the
application process, resources and address any questions. Register for the webinar
here.
Communities, non-profit
organizations and schools interested in applying for any category can review
the requirements, submit applications, preview previous grant implementation,
and find more information on the Community
Forestry Grants homepage.
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Photos: Photos from previous grant recipients
and their implementation projects can be found here.
Texas
A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Kate Faris, Community
Forestry Grants Program Specialist, 979-933-5527, kate.faris@tfs.tamu.edu
Communications Office, 979-458-6606,
newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu