Fall 2022 Community Forestry Grant Program
The Iowa Legislature appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) to be used for a community-based tree planting program for derecho recovery tree planting. A total of $250,000 in matching funds are available for 27 impacted counties (see map in the the application form). Additionally, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters (NASF) 2022 State Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) received Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Reforestation funds. A total of $250,000 in matching funds will be made available to the same 27 counties that also suffered losses from EAB.
The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants from $500 to $5,000 to be used to purchase and plant trees suitable to Iowa. Award recipients are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match for the purchase of trees and materials from Iowa businesses. For this round of grants, award recipients in counties impacted by both the August 10, 2020 derecho and Emerald Ash Borer will be awarded federal EAB Reforestation funds as a dollar-for-dollar match for state infrastructure derecho recovery funds. Award recipients will be reimbursed up to $5,000 of derecho recovery grant funds and $5,000 grant match funds.
These Community Forestry Grants are available to state and local governments entities, schools and volunteer organizations and service organizations involved with local urban and community forest services, for planting trees on publicly owned lands owned by state, county or local governments and located within the State of Iowa (DNR lands are not eligible). Qualifying public planting lands include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and trails.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2022.