Urban Forestry Grant Programs

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Forestry
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Trees for Kids Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2026 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, received funds to plant trees on public lands.

The Trees for Kids grant program serves to educate K-12 and college students in Iowa about the importance of trees through tree planting events at schools and on public land. Grant recipients are awarded up to $2,500 per project to purchase trees and mulch from Iowa nurseries. DNR staff members provide planting, mulching, and watering demonstrations and offer guidance to students as they plant their trees. Education requirements are different this year due to the pandemic so please read over recommendations in the application.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on January 8, 2027.

For more information or questions,  contact Chip Murrow at [email protected] or 515-822-1031.

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Urban Forestry Development Grant

Through the USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a pass-through partner for the Urban Forestry Development grants for communities.

Contact Chip Murrow at [email protected] or 515-822-1031 for questions about the application, reimbursement and rules. Contact Laurie Dams at [email protected] or 515-782-6414 for application assistance or to set up a site visit.

Round 1  Award Recipients 
A total of $1,506,935 was awarded to 33 projects. Award recipients include:

  • City ofAmes

  • City of Burt

  • City of Carlisle

  • City of Carroll- Parks and Recreation

  • Clinton County Agriculture Extension District

  • City of Coralville

  • City of Council Bluffs Parks Department

  • City of Denison

  • City of Denver

  • City of Des Moines Public Works Forestry Division

  • Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens|

  • City of Estherville

  • City of Fayette Tree Board 

  • City of Grimes

  • City of Hawarden

  • City of Iowa City

  • Johnson County

  • City of Marshalltown

  • City of Montezuma

  • City of Murray

  • City of Muscatine - Parks & Recreation Department

  • Partners of Scott County Watersheds

  • Polk County Conservation

  • Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi

  • Sioux County Conservation

  • City of Tiffin

  • Trees Forever

  • University of Northern Iowa

  • City of Vinton

  • City of Washington

  • City of Waterloo Leisure Services

  • City of West Des Moines

  • Woodbury County Conservation

Round 2  Award Recipients 
A total of $1,495,885 was awarded to 33 projects. Award recipients include:

  • City of Ames

  • City of Armstrong

  • City of Belmond Tree Board

  • City of Britt

  • City of Buffalo Center

  • City of Carter Lake

  • City of Corwith

  • City of Crystal Lake

  • City of Dayton

  • City of Denison

  • City of Des Moines

  • City of Farmington

  • City of Fayette Tree Board

  • City of Garner

  • City of George

  • City of Grinnell

  • City of Harcourt

  • City of Kanawha

  • City of Klemme

  • City of Lone Rock

  • City of McIntire

  • City of Murray

  • City of Red Oak

  • City of Ringsted

  • City of Swea City

  • City of Tiffin

  • City of Waterloo Leisure Services

  • City of Woden

  • Marathon Hometown Pride

  • Trees Forever

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IRA Iowa Tree Planting Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds to plant trees in public spaces.

Contact Chip Murrow at [email protected] or 515-822-1031 for questions about the application, reimbursement and rules. Contact Laurie Dams at [email protected] or 515-782-6414 for application assistance or to set up a site visit.

 Round 1  Award Recipients 
A total of $914,251 was awarded to 38 projects. Award recipients include:

  • City of Afton

  • City of Ames

  • City of Armstrong

  • Audubon County

  • City of Belmond

  • City of Burlington

  • City of Carroll Parks and Recreation Department

  • City of Carter Lake

  • City of Cedar Falls

  • Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

  • Central School Preservation

  • Clinton Trees Forever

  • Council Bluffs Trees Forever

  • Crawford County Conservation Board

  • City of Creston

  • City of Denison

  • City of Des Moines Forestry

  • City of Garner Chamber Of Commerce

  • City of Granville

  • City of Grimes Public Works

  • City of Hampton Tree Board 

  • Hancock County Conservation

  • City of Humboldt

  • City of Iowa City

  • City of Jefferson Tree Committee

  • Johnson County

  • Linn County

  • City of Manly

  • City of Marion Tree Board

  • City of Oelwein

  • City of Ottumwa Parks and Recreation

  • City of Preston

  • City of Randall

  • City of Sioux City

  • Sioux County Agriculture and Exposition CenterCity of 

  • Spencer

  • City of West Des Moines

  • Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Round 2  Award Recipients 
A total of $887,293 was awarded to 36 projects. Award recipients include:

  • Baxter Hometown Pride

  • Benton County Conservation

  • Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Inc.

  • City of Breda

  • City of Chariton

  • City of Clutier

  • City of Coralville

  • City of Council Bluffs Horticulture and Grounds

  • City of Cumberland

  • City of Des Moines Forestry

  • City of Early

  • Friends of the Hampton Tree Board

  • City of George

  • City of Harcourt

  • City of Harlan

  • City of Hartley

  • City of Hull

  • ICON Water Trails

  • City of Iowa City

  • City of Lake City

  • City of Laurens

  • City of Lu Verne

  • City of Mapleton

  • City of Maquoketa Tree Board

  • Marion County Conservation Board

  • City of Marshalltown Parks & Recreation

  • Polk County Conservation Board

  • City of Remsen

  • City of Soldier

  • City of Tiffin

  • City of Tipton

  • Trees Forever

  • University of Northern Iowa

  • Upper Iowa University

  • WACO Community School District

  • City of West Des Moines

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IRA Trees for Schools Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds for schools to plant trees.

Spring 2024 Award Recipients 
A total of $100,560.84 was awarded to 25 projects. Award recipients include:

  • Clear Creek Amana Middle School
  • Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton
  • Hillcrest Academy
  • Jesup Community Schools
  • Logan-Magnolia Schools
  • Marshalltown CSD
  • Mason City CSD
  • Poyner Elementary
  • Resurrection Elementary
  • River Woods Elementary
  • Sacred Heart - Sioux City
  • South Side Elementary - Hampton
  • South Winneshiek
  • Southeast Polk CSD
  • Southeast Polk Skilled Trade Center
  • Spirit Lake Elementary
  • Timber Ridge Elementary
  • Tipton Middle School
  • Turkey Valley Schools
  • Union Schools
  • Valley Lutheran School - Cedar Falls
  • Webster City High School
  • West Liberty Elementary
  • West Liberty High School
  • Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids

Spring 2025 Award Recipients 
A total of $108,226.06 was awarded to 29 projects. Award recipients include:

  • ADM Middle School
  • Aldrich Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Colfax-Mingo Jr./Sr. High School
  • Denver Secondary School
  • Dike-New Hartford Community Schools
  • Essex Community School
  • Farley Elementary
  • Highland Elementary
  • Humboldt Community School District
  • IKM-Manning CSD
  • Irving Elementary
  • Keokuk CSD
  • Logan Magnolia High School
  • Lincoln Elementary
  • Maple Grove Elementary
  • Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community Schools
  • MOC Floyd Valley High School
  • Nodaway Valley Elementary
  • North Iowa Christian School
  • Osage CSD
  • Postville CSD
  • Shell Rock Elementary
  • Sioux Center CSD
  • South Central Calhoun CSD
  • Southeast Polk CSD
  • Starmont CSD
  • West Central Valley High School
  • Willowwind School
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Community Forestry Grant Program Report

The Community Forestry Grant Program RIIF funding was allocated by the State of Iowa and funded projects between March 21 and December 17, 2025. 

 Derecho CFGP Final Report Spring and Fall 2025 (1.07 MB) .pdf

 

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