Urban Forestry Grants

2009 Intent to Apply [PDF, 492KB]

Recipients of Wisconsin DNR 2008 Urban Forestry Grants [PDF, 62KB]

1. The purpose of the grant program is to fund projects that improve a community's capacity to manage its trees. The applicant may be a city, village, town, county, tribal government, or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Joint applications are encouraged.
2. The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Grant program is a 50-50 cost-share program. The grant recipient, or sponsor, uses its own resources (cash, in-kind services, and/or donations) to fund the entire cost of the project. Upon project completion and approval, the sponsor requests reimbursement for 50 percent of eligible costs up to the approved amount of the grant award. Nonprofit organizations may ask for half of their total grant as an advance at the time of award, but otherwise grants are not provided up front.
3. Grants range from $1000 to $25,000. The minimum total project size is $2000. There is no maximum project size, however reimbursement is limited to $25,000.
4. An Intent to Apply (ITA) form should be submitted by all prospective applicants no later than July 1, 2008. Those that submit an ITA will be sent an application packet in early August. Or, you can download a pdf version of the 2009 ITA [PDF, 492KB] or contact your Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator.
5. The 2009 grant application packet will be available in early August. If you have questions, contact your Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator.
6. Application deadline this year is October 6, 2008. Projects may begin no earlier than January 1, 2009 and must be completed no later than the following December 31, 2009.
7. Learn about financial and record-keeping guidelines in the 2008 Record Keeping and Reimbursement Guide [PDF, 670KB] (For the 2007 grant cycle please use 2007 Record Keeping and Reimbursement Guide [PDF, 682KB]) or contact the DNR Urban Forestry Grant Coordinator Candice Sovinski or your Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator.
8. Forms
• Reimbursement worksheets [.dot, 528KB]
• Reimbursement Request [PDF, 11KB]
• Procurement Guide for Local Governments Receiving DNR grants [PDF, 183KB]

Eligible Projects

Projects may include, but are not limited to, development of:

• urban forestry plans (strategic plans, management plans, work plans, etc.)
• community tree inventories
• vegetation ordinances
• urban forestry tree boards or tree action groups
• urban forestry staff training
• urban forestry public awareness programs and/or materials
• urban forestry volunteer/neighborhood involvement programs
• tree health care plans
• hazard tree inventories
• contract specifications for urban tree planting, maintenance, and/or removal
• funds may be available for tree planting, maintenance, or removal

For 2009 priority will be given to emerald ash borer projects.

Eligible Project Costs

1. Eligible project costs that are reimbursable include: salaries and fringe benefits of personnel directly engaged in project; necessary supplies and equipment; leased equipment and facilities; contract costs of vendors to perform project activities; value of in-kind contributions by applicant of labor, equipment, or facilities.
2. Eligible project costs that are non-reimbursable include the value of donated (where no compensation is made) labor, equipment, supplies, facilities, or services. These costs are eligible as the applicant's match, but are not eligible for reimbursement.
3. Learn more about financial and record-keeping requirements in the 2008 Record Keeping and Reimbursement Guide [PDF, 670KB] (For the 2007 grant cycle please use 2007 Record Keeping and Reimbursement Guide [PDF, 682KB]).

For further information: Contact the DNR's Urban Forestry Grant Coordinator or your DNR Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator or write: