Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry 
Tree Planting Grant – 2026
With more than half of Kentuckians now living in or near urban areas, the benefits our urban forests provide have become that much more important. The Kentucky Division of Forestry is taking applications for its Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Tree Planting Grant - 2026. A total of $156,721 will be available from funding received from the USDA Forest Service to local governments, 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, and educational institutions for the purchase and planting of trees in urban forestry priority planting areas. Communities and organizations are encouraged to apply for between $1,000 and $40,000. Larger proposals will be considered. Consideration will be given to ensure smaller communities have equitable access to funding. No match funding will be required. For more information see the Urban and Community Forestry Tree Planting Grant Request for Application linked below. Funded in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. For more information see the Urban and Community Forestry Tree Planting Grant Request for Application. Application Deadline is April 3.
Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Grant Eligibility Map
The Urban and Community Forestry Grant Eligibility Map is live to explore! This map is a first stop in determining eligibility for KDF's Urban and Community Forestry grants. Incorporating a number of environmental and economic indicators as well as the Kentucky Forest Action Plan - Urban Forestry Priority Areas, this map allows applicants to better focus their projects to benefit communities across the Commonwealth. 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 urban 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.