Community forestry

DNR forester and landowner walking in landowner's woodlands

Empower your community with a thriving tree canopy through DNR urban community forestry grants. The 2023 Legislature provided over $25 million in grant funding that will be rolled out over the next few years to create resilient urban forests and encourage the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources.

Applications are now open for local units of government, tribal governments, and non-profits to help with your community forest management activities.  We are offering a webinar and several in-person grant informational sessions around the state in early August to answer questions and support your grant application process.

Applications are now open for local units of government and non-profits to help with your community forest management activities. 

2023 Grants

There are two great opportunities in 2023 with over $16 million in eligible funding. Both grants are open to tribal governments and local units of government, which are cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers boards, and towns. Parks and recreation boards in cities of the first class are also eligible to apply. The ReLeaf grant is also open to nonprofit organizations. Click the link below for information specific to the grant. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for both grants! Grant requirements are similar to make dual application easier. However, please contact us if you have questions: [email protected]

Applicants can request a maximum of $500,000 in funding from each grant. There is no minimum request or matching funds requirement, making these grants accessible to a wide range of organizations and municipalities.

  • ReLeaf community forestry grants, 2023-2027 - $6.883 million in grants for local units of government and non-profit organizations in Minnesota that encourage and promote the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, treatment, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources to enhance community forest health and sustainability, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and promote energy conservation.
    Deadline: September 18, 2023.
  • Shade tree program bonding grants, 2023-2027 – $10.063 million in grants for local units of government in Minnesota that are planning to replace trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm; or to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests.
    Deadline: October 2, 2023.

Grant informational sessions

Webinar

We hosted a webinar titled Historic grant funding to assist in urban and community forest management, where we discussed the current status of EAB across Minnesota, the Tree Inspector Program, ISA Certified Arborist credentialing and the urban community forestry grants.

Slides from our presenters:

Past grants

Visit our grant recipient page to see which communities have been awarded grants.

Resources for communities
Partners

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