Minnesota Communities Receive Tree Planting Grants

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has awarded nearly $5 million in Community Tree Planting Grants to 33 communities. Funded by the Minnesota State Legislature, the grant increases urban forest diversity by removing damaged and dying trees and planting new trees.

“Trees make our cities and towns better places to live by helping reduce our electric bills, stormwater runoff, and stress. Every community, regardless of size and demographics, deserves and benefits from a resilient tree canopy,” said Madisson Masucci, DNR’s urban and community forestry coordinator. “With this round of funding, more than 6,000 trees will be planted or replaced in communities throughout Minnesota.”

The Community Tree Planting Grants, along with the ReLeaf Grants, represented one of the largest urban and community forestry funding opportunities ever offered by the DNR. ReLeaf grant recipients will be announced later this year. In addition to trees planted in communities through these grants, an additional 18 million seedlings have been planted on state lands during the Walz-Flanagan administration.

A new DNR urban and community forestry grant is open through Sept. 14. Applications for the Protect Community Forestry for Community Resilience Grant are available to Tribal and local governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status, and educational institutions. The maximum grant award is $150,000 with no match required. The Protect Community Forestry Grant is funded by the Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Visit the DNR website(mndnr.gov/community-forestry-grants) for information about the grant.