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​​​​​​​​​Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant

Now Open!

The Kentucky Division of Forestry will launch its Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant open February 9th – March 22nd,​ 2024. One million eight hundred thousand dollars ($1.8 million) will be available to local governments, 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to support work increasing access to trees and green spaces, and the many benefits they provide. 

Funded through the US Forest Service from the Inflation Reduction Act, 100% of funding is intended to be delivered to or used to serve underserved and disadvantaged communities. Communities and organizations are encouraged to apply for between $1,000 and $250,000. Larger proposals will be considered. Consideration will be given to ensure smaller communities have equitable access to funding. No match funding will be required. Look for more information coming soon by visiting our UCFAG  page or emailing to join our mailing list!

​UCF Assistance Grant Eligibility Map Now Live

The Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant Eligibility Map is now live to explore! This map will be a first stop in determining eligibility for the UCF Assistance Grant.  Incorporating Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, Tree Equity Score, and local population data, this map allows applicants to better focus their projects to benefit underserved and disadvantaged communities across the Commonwealth. Once the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant is launched, in early-February 2024, applicants will be asked to fill in a quick survey and draw their proposed project areas as a first step in their grant applications. For more information or to explore visit: https://arcg.is/1TPPyP.

What is Urban Forestry?

Urban and community forestry is an increasingly familiar term in our large cities and small rural towns. Urban forests are the trees outside our front doors.  They are dynamic ecosystems that provide critical benefits to our communities, and come in many different shapes and sizes. They include parks, street trees, yard trees, landscaped boulevards, gardens, river and stream corridors, greenways, wetlands, nature preserves, shelter belts of trees, and working trees at former industrial sites. Urban forests, through planned connections of green spaces, form the green infrastructure on which small and large communities depend. Urban forests help to filter air and water, control storm water, conserve energy, provide wildlife habitat, shade and natural beauty. By reducing noise and providing places to recreate, urban forests strengthen social cohesion, spur community revitalization, and add economic value to our communities.

More than one-half of Kentuckians live in or near and urban setting. The population living in our towns and cities continues to grow, which makes urban forests in our Commonwealth more important than ever. Our urban forestry management decisions should encompass environmental, economic, social, and human health benefits. A comprehensive urban forestry program should include citizen input and support, a commitment from city officials and managers, and a properly trained work force.

Technical Assistance

The Kentucky Division of Forestry provides urban forestry technical assistance to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and private landowners. The focus of the urban forestry program is to help communities develop long-term, self-sustaining urba​n forestry programs. The division also assists with tree board formation and support, the development of tree ordinances, Arbor Day planning and Tree City USA technical support and application assistance. Through these efforts, the program creates healthier, more livable environments in our cities and towns across Kentucky.

For more information about what your community can do to develop or improve its urban forestry program, contact Chris Wiedamann​​, Urban and Community Forestry program coordinator.

Tree Line Newsletter

The division has a Tree Line list serv that sends a quarterly newsletter as well as emails with current events, occasional grant opportunities and timely information news of interest to urban forest enthusiasts.  To sign up for the list serv, please send an email to Chris Wiedamann.​

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