Community Forestry Grant Program
The Iowa Legislature appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to be used for a community-based tree planting program for derecho recovery tree planting in 27 impacted counties. Additionally, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters (NASF) 2022 State Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program, the DNR received Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Reforestation funds.
The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants to be used to purchase and plant trees suitable to Iowa. For this round of grants, award recipients in counties impacted by both the August 10, 2020 derecho and Emerald Ash Borer will be awarded the federal EAB Reforestation funds as a dollar-for-dollar match for state infrastructure derecho recovery funds. Award recipients will be reimbursed $1,000 to $10,000 for the purchase of trees and materials from Iowa businesses.
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, to plant 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.
Spring 2023 Award Recipients
A total of $132,666 was awarded to 19 projects. Award recipients include:
- Boone County Conservation Board
- City of Ames
- City of Coralville
- City of Des Moines
- City of Iowa City
- City of Jefferson Tree Committee
- City of Johnston
- City of Lone Tree
- City of Maquoketa Tree Board
- City of Marshalltown
- City of Tipton
- City of Urbandale
- City of West Des Moines
- Fellows Elementary School - Ames CSD
- Jasper County Conservation Department
- North High School - Des Moines Public Schools
- Polk County Conservation Board
- Story County Conservation
- Trees Forever, Inc.
Trees for Kids Grant Program
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.
2023 Award Recipients
A total of $48,868 was awarded to 23 projects. Award recipients include:
- City of Ames
- City of Denison
- City of Johnston
- City of Newton
- City of Spencer
- City of Stuart
- City of Waverly
- East Marshall Middle School
- Floyd County Conservation
- Harrison County Conservation
- Mason City Community School
- North Polk West Elementary
- Oelwein School
- Onawa Public Library Friends Group
- Orchard Hill Elementary
- Parkview Middle School
- Pekin Community High School
- Polk County Conservation
- South Central Calhoun Community Schools
- Story County Conservation
- Stratford Elementary School
- Treynor Optimist Club
- Winneshiek County Conservation