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:
- Jonathan Osthus' slides: Status of EAB in Minnesota
- Ryan Murphy’s slides: MN certified tree inspector program
- Paul Buck’s slides: International Society of Arboriculture
- Emma Schultz's slides: 2023 ReLeaf community forestry and shade tree bonding grant programs
Past grants
- 2023 Preparing for EAB grants program
- Protect Community Forests by Managing Ash for EAB Grants program
- Shade tree program bonding grants, 2021-2024
Visit our grant recipient page to see which communities have been awarded grants.
- Resources for communities
- Minnesota's Urban and Community Forest Best Management Practices for Preventing the Introduction, Establishment, and Spread of Invasive Species
- Best management practices to Conserving Wooded Areas in Developing Communities
- Guidelines to Slow the Growth and Spread of Emerald Ash Borer
- Financial assistance
- Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances
- Plant Selector
- Tree City USA
- Diagnosing plant diseases
- Certified Tree Inspector Program
- Minnesota Certified Arborists list
- Minnesota Tree Care Advocate
- Tree care assistance
- Minnesota Consulting Foresters List
- Society of American Foresters Certified Foresters List
- Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors
- Partners