INDIANA — Indiana communities and organizations have the opportunity to apply for a portion of $508,559 in grant funding for community and urban forestry projects. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the availability of three separate grants, all with a single application deadline of October 23.
The grants are designed to support a variety of forestry efforts, from urban tree planting to managing the effects of invasive species. All grant materials and detailed information can be found here.
Key changes to the application process have been implemented, and applicants are advised to read the instructions carefully. While communities may apply for more than one grant, receiving funding for multiple grants is not guaranteed.
All applications must be submitted through the State Budget Agency (SBA) website, with the application portal set to open on September 15. Funding announcements are expected to be made by November 17.
The three grant opportunities are:
- Community & Urban Forestry Assistance (CUFA) Grant: This grant supports a broad range of projects, including tree inventories, management plans, and general tree planting initiatives.
- State Urban Forest Resilience (SUFR) Grant: This funding is allocated explicitly for managing and recovering from the devastating effects of the emerald ash borer. Eligible projects include the removal of dead ash trees, treatment of existing ash trees, and the planting of new trees to replace lost canopy.
- Small Town Big Trees Grant: This grant is exclusively available to communities with a population of 10,000 or less. Projects can include inventories, management plans, and tree planting, among others.
For more information, interested parties can contact Jacob Roos at Jroos@dnr.IN.gov.
