Community Forestry Grant Program
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Reforestation funds through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters (NASF) 2022 State Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program.
The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants to be used to purchase and plant trees suitable to Iowa. Award recipients in the 97counties impacted emerald ash borer will be awarded the federal EAB Reforestation funds and are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match. A total of $75,000 in funds are available. Award recipients will be reimbursed $500 to $5,000 to purchase trees and materials from Iowa businesses.
The Community Forestry Grant is 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.
Fall 2023 Award Recipients
A total of 78,709.39 was awarded to 22 projects. Award recipients include:
- Black Hawk CCB
- Boone County Chamber of Commerce
- City of Alta
- City of Ames
- City of Burlington
- City of Carroll -Parks and Recreation
- City of Cascade
- City of Cedar Rapids
- City of Charles City
- City of Denison
- City of Exira
- City of Iowa City
- City of Johnston - Parks Department
- City of Mason City
- City of Nashua
- City of Oelwein
- City of Tipton
- City of Waverly
- City of West Des Moines
- Dallas CCB
- O'Brien CCB
- Winneshiek CCB
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.
The next grant round will be Spring of 2024.