Deadline: 13-Sep-21
The Urban & Community Forestry Program of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division (Forestry Division) has a wide range of personnel, resources, and programs available to assist local groups and government entities in managing their community’s natural resources.
Objectives
The Forestry Division’s Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Program objectives are to:
- Promote the importance of tree care and tree management to ensure communities maintain sustainable forests for community health
- Enhance the technical skills of individuals involved in the planning, development and maintenance of urban & community forests.
- Promote the restoration of green space with low-impact development projects
- Broaden the public’s understanding of tree cover benefits through demonstration projects
- Provide educational programs & technical assistance to state & local organizations
- Develop productive urban landscapes to improve water and air quality, conserve energy, reduce the heat island effect, and provide a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits
Funding Information
- The allowable grant expenditures for local program development projects have a maximum limit of $12,000 federal dollars. The Grant Review Committee may waive the maximum allowable grant award for an exceptional proposal.
- The federal share of any project will not exceed 50% of total project expenditures (50-50 match).
- The federal cost-share portion of the project may not be matched by federal monies from any source.
- The non-federal match may be cash, services, or in-kind contributions (services or in-kind contributions must be assigned fair market value).
- This program is not to be used to replace existing funds and is to be used for projects not currently funded.
- Funding for tree planting is limited to $2,000 federal dollars per project to prioritize the need for proper tree care and management. Tree planting expenses in excess of $2,000 may be used as nonfederal match for a project.
Performance Measures
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service evaluates the management of urban and community forests using these National Performance Measures:
- Management Plans: Community has active urban and community forest management plans developed from professional resource assessments/inventories
- Professional Staff: Community relies on the services of individuals who have one or more of the following credentials and are directly employed or retained through written agreement to advise and/or assist in planting, protection, and maintenance of urban and community trees and forests:
- Degree in forestry or a related field
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or equivalent professional certification
- Ordinances/policies: Communities that have adopted and can present documentation of local/statewide ordinances or policies that focus on planting, protecting, and maintaining their urban and community trees and forests
- Advocacy/Advisory Organizations: Communities with active tree boards, commissions, or nonprofit organizations that advise on or advocate for the planting, protection, and maintenance of urban and community trees and forests
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible recipients must be affiliated with a government entity, non-profit organization, or an educational institution, and they must meet all federal regulations, requirements, and standards.
For more information, visit https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-UCF-Grant-Application.pdf