2026 Protect Community Forests for Community Resiliency Grant

Are Applicants able to request both operational volunteering planting assistance through Tree Trust and educational assistance through the University of Minnesota’s Tree Steward program?

Yes! Both operational and educational assistance can be requested.

Another component of the University of Minnesota’ Tree Steward Training program is that volunteers are required to complete at least 10 hours of volunteerism or attend three pruning events each year to keep their tree steward certification current. Do volunteer Tree Stewards also need to submit this information to the DNR as part of the grant?

You will not need to provide this information both to the U of M and to us. It will be reported to the U of M as is standard practice, and they will then be able to forward that information on to us.

To my knowledge, there is a minimum number of residents that must be committed to receiving Tree Steward training before the University of Minnesota will agree to provide training to community members. I am assuming that this requirement is still true if we request to receive educational assistance through this program as part of the Protecting Community Forests Grant?

If you are selected to receive educational assistance, there will be no minimum number of residents required to participate. Ultimately, we want the U of M to use their funds wisely and if you only have one or two people signed up they would likely work with you to do some more recruitment, or combine regional trainings. If in the end you only get one or two individuals to participate, they will still provide the program to you.

Would receiving operational assistance through Tree Trust as described in the grant be different than hiring tree trust to provide services as contractor?

Yes, receiving assistance through Tree Trust is different than hiring Tree Trust to provide services as a contractor. The Landscape Services side of Tree Trust is their earned income division, which provides tree and lawn care services.

Would any work done by a contractor be considered technical assistance? The RFA states that cities “will not have to budget (pay) for technical assistance” if we want to receive operational assistance through Tree Trust in partnership with the conservation corps or education assistance from the University of Minnesota to train community members to become tree stewards. From my understanding, there are typically costs associated with receiving assistance through either of these organizations. Do recipients of the grant automatically get these costs waived due to a partnership with the DNR or would communities be reimbursed through the grant for any costs associated with assistance provided by either of these organizations?

While you could consider work done by a contractor to be assistance, per se, the separate ‘technical assistance’ component of this grant program is limited to Tree Trust and/or the University of Minnesota’s Tree Steward program. These organizations were included in our original application for funding for this overall program, and so we have budgeted separate amounts above and beyond what we will grant out to local units of government. These separate amounts of funding will allow Tree Trust and the Tree Steward program to do work with grantees who request their assistance, with funds going straight to Tree Trust and/or the University of Minnesota. As mentioned in the Request for Applications, if you are applying for assistance with tree planting, you will still need to budget for the purchase of trees. Costs for the assistance itself, however, will not need to be budgeted for by grantees.

What do we report to the U of M for Tree Steward Hours? What format does it need to be in?

You can find more information at the Tree Stewards Program website.

Does the availability of Tree Trust planting assistance mean that all planting projects need to be done by Tree Trust?

Technical Assistance through Tree Trust is optional. You do not have to opt-in to this opportunity.

Is there a cost associated with technical assistance through Tree Trust?

No, Tree Trust will provide the services outline in the Request for Applications free of cost for grantees that opt-in to the program. Grantees will be responsible for the cost of the trees planted, which can be incorporated into the project budget.

If you use one of the technical assistance options, we need to get a letter of support from Tree Trust of the University of Minnesota?

No, you do not need a letter of support. DNR will notify these organizations which grantees have opted into their programs.

Is there a specific contact for Tree Trust or the U of M if we are interested in asking for their assistance for planting? Or is it assumed we can contact them if we are awarded the grant for technical assistance components/planting?

This technical assistance piece is provided free of cost if you are awarded and they are aware of their involvement. There will be a question in the grant portal that asks if you would like to opt-in to any of the offered technical assistance. Once contracts are executed, we will notify Tree Trust and The University the grantees that will participate. We, at DNR, have funding allocated from LCCMR for these activities and have a separate contract with both organizations.

Eligible activities

For this grant, are we required to include removals and replacements, or is it possible to use funds solely for new tree plantings for diversity?

It is possible to use funds solely for tree planting. You can select “Tree Planting for Diversity” as your sole proposed project component within the Qualtrics Survey.

As an SWCD, we want to partner with another local unit of government and/or organization, is this possible?

Yes, you can partner with other organizations for your proposed project. You must submit a letter of support from the organization you plan to partner with. A letter of support from any identified partner organization(s) should acknowledge and agree to the specific role(s) and activities attributed to the partner organization in the grant application.

The list of eligible activities explicitly mentions work on residential land for low-income residents only in bullet #1. Are any of the other activities in the list also possible for low-income residential residents to participate or have related work completed? (Specifically removing and replacing ash/high risk trees, planting trees for diversity, chemical treatment, and pruning)

Community forestry work on residential lands for low-income residents can include any combination of the other eligible activities listed on the website and in the Request for Applications. For example, tree planting, tree removals and replanting, and pruning. All activities on residential land must be conducted by companies or organizations with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on staff, Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) accreditation, or equivalent qualification.

Can the city apply to help residents with residential removals and replacements? After looking at the resources for small communities and the maps that were available, our town does not seem to show that we have a significant low-income population. Also we do have a significant amount of ash trees that are a problem but we are not technically in an area that has been affected.

Yes, the city can apply to provide residential tree care. The maps and resources provided in the underserved communities resource list are just optional tools to identify areas if you are unsure where to start but they are not the only means to determine low income capacity or work areas for the grant. All applicants can determine their own definition of low income as long as it is clear how you arrived at this definition and how you will uphold that low-income threshold during the grant period. For example, many communities chose to use a percentage (such as 50% or 80%) of their Area Median Income or AMI to determine low-income thresholds. Though you can define it differently, so long as there is a clear income-related threshold and it is justified in the application. Regardless of whether EAB is present in your community per the MDA map, you are eligible to apply for funding as long as you meet the minimum requirements outlined in the Request for applications.

Can we apply for a smaller grant, around $50,000 to hire a contractor to cut down some ash trees to help out our Parks Dept. Forestry crew keep up with poor condition or declining Ash trees?

Yes, you can apply for a smaller grant, as there is no minimum amount you can request. Additionally, all the activities listed (contractor costs, ash tree removal) are eligible under this grant. Tree removals from boulevards and parks, must be replaced at least one-for-one (i.e., at least one tree planted for every tree removed), and trees must be replanted at the same location of the removal whenever possible and feasible, or received approval from a DNR grant administrator in advance of planting.

Can we apply for grant money to help individual homeowners defer the cost of removing their private trees? For example, Homeowner applies to city for $1,000 to help pay for cost to remove a $2,400 Ash tree in their back yard. Helping them reduce the expense, if they qualify for a low-income property based on tax statements, etc.

This is technically an eligible expense; however, we do not encourage reimbursement to homeowners directly as the reimbursement is considered taxable income and can create an additional barrier to participation in removal/replanting programs. Grantees typically identify low-income private property removals/planting sites and have a contractor conduct the work. The city would then pay the contractor and be reimbursed by DNR.

I understand “chemical treatment with injectable non-neonicotinoid insecticide” to be an eligible project under this grant program, while “experimental practices not approved by DNR” is an ineligible project. Where would a biological treatment of EAB fall along the scale of eligible projects? Either way, we would like to establish some kind of EAB management plan, potentially using these grant dollars if we were awarded any funding, but I’m curious if the application of this biological solution could end up being the primary maintenance activity within an EAB management plan, for example, or if this is too experimental where the DNR might deem it ineligible.

Unfortunately, at this point biocontrol methods are still categorized as experimental and ineligible due to the lack of field testing and research available. A management plan is an eligible expense and we would still allow the cost for the management plan if you incorporate biocontrol as a management tactic into the plan. We would not allow any expenses directly associated with biocontrol efforts like purchase of products, contracting, etc. to actually apply biocontrol.

What is considered a high-risk unsafe tree?

A high-risk unsafe tree is considered a tree that poses a public safety risk. For example, a dead tree in a high traffic park. These trees can be any species.

What sort of tree protection is allowed?

Tree protection that we typically see, and allow, are watering bags, cages, wraps, and donuts. If you are not sure if the tree protection you want to use is eligible, reach out to [email protected]

Is planting an orchard allowed under this grant?

Yes, purchasing and planting fruit trees using this grant funding is eligible, but may be scored lower than other projects removing and replacing ash. To maximize your application score, review the rubric at the end of the RFA before submitting your application.

If our organization has an agreement with MNDOT to do tree maintenance along state highways, would we be able to use the grant for this effort?

No, work on state land is not eligible under this grant. Only work on non-state public and low-income residential lands is eligible.

For tribal lands owned and managed by the Tribal government, does that qualify as public lands?

Yes, lands owned and managed by Tribal entities qualify as public lands for the purposes of this grant.

For underplanting in black ash swamps, is it limited to within 10 miles within the EAB infestation areas?

No, planting is not restricted to within the 10 mile buffer.

Is work done on county land eligible?

Yes, that would be considered public lands and eligible.

We want to have ongoing outreach and education sessions with the public. Are those eligible expenses? For example renting a meeting space, printing of materials, etc?

Yes, all of those would be eligible expenses. The only thing that wouldn’t be eligible is food and beverage costs for events.

How strict is the 10 mile buffer for EAB infestations on whether we can use funds for treatment?

It is based on a GIS buffer and you do need to be within that buffered area to utilize funding for treatment of ash. If you are outside of it now but close to the edge, you may consider adding language into your application about “if grant funds are left over during the grant period and EAB finds occur during the grant period, we would like to utilize left over funding for EAB treatment”.

Does $4,999 just unit cost or does that include taxes?

It includes everything. No one unit can cost more than $4,999 in total.

Would a subsidized tree giveaway be an eligible expense?

Yes, this would fall under the low income residential work and you would need to follow the Residential Assistance Requirements outlined in the Request for Applications.

Can we plant smaller whips less than 3/4” caliper?

No, we have restrictions on stock size as we’ve found the allowable stock size to perform the best in urban and community forestry settings for long term establishment. Smaller stock is typically not allowed as it does not have as high of survival rates.

Can we plant species that are not typically in their native range for our part of the state such as river birch?

Yes, you are able to plant climate adapted species as long as they are not on the Noxious Weed List or Terrestrial Invasive Species List as noted in the RFA.

Sugar bushing is a really important aspect of our community. As ash wetlands die out and flood our adjacent maple stands, we are worried about the community forestry impacts on sugar bushing. Are we able to do wetlands underplanting to prevent flooding following ash mortality?

Yes, as long as you are following the species and stock requirements you may conduct under plantings on public lands for these purposes.

What is the maximum administrative time allowed?

Staff time for local units of government, Tribal Governments, and schools are not allowed. For nonprofit organizations, there are no specific percentage limits.

Is there a minimum number of different tree species your program would like to see for replacing the removed trees?  We have read the guidance, but it did not mention a specific amount required.  We are planning for 7 species that would meet the replanting guidance.

There is no minimum amount of tree species you must plant as a part of your project. All trees must meet the size requirements and general species composition for your community (20-10-5) as outlined in the Request for Applications.

What if trees are removed before grants approved and work starts and there are funds remaining?  Would we be able to use those funds for other eligible activities?

Any high-risk trees removed before the contract is executed will not be eligible for reimbursement. Adjustments like this during the grant period are typically addressed on a case-by-case basis, so communicate these situations with your assigned DNR Grant Administrator as soon as possible.

Is staff time an eligible for this grant?

Yes and no. Staff time is ONLY eligible for non-profits. For all other organizations (e.g., local units of government) staff time is ineligible.

How can funding be utilized if awarded? Does the funding need to be specific only to tree planting, developing a tree inventory or towards an EAB management plan? Or can the funding be used for two items?

The funding can be used towards as many of the eligible activities as you want, so long as the budget it realistic, cost-effective, and no more than $150,000 (the max award for this grant). Eligible activities and expenses and listed in the request for applications. All applicants are strongly encourage to review the scoring rubric to see how each response will rescored.

Are we able to combine different projects into one grant application, or should we split them into three different applications from the same organization?

Each organization should submit one grant application regardless of the number of activities proposed.

I work for a SWCD – is staff time for administering this grant on behalf of another entity eligible?

Professional contracts for technical assistance, resident education and engagement, or project implementation by individuals or organizations not part of a local unit of government are eligible. So, technically, consulting staff time is an eligible expense; however, because SWCDs are a local unit of government you would not be able to charge staff time for administering this grant on behalf of another entity.

Is a tree giveaway to residents eligible under this grant?

Yes, as long as residents self-certify that they are low-income and the grantee follows all other residential requirements listed in the Request for Applications.

Is ash tree removal on residential property allowed?

Yes, it is allowed as long as the trees are replaced 1-to-1 and all residential tree care guidance outlined in the Request for applications is followed. All removal work on residential property must be completed by tree care companies holding liability insurance and with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on staff, or Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) accreditation, or equivalent certification.

Can my organization subsidize removals for residents where we reimburse the residents directly?

While technically allowed, reimbursing residents directly is not advised as the reimbursement amount is considered taxable income, which can create a barrier to participation in the program.

Is boulevard tree trimming eligible under this grant?

Yes, pruning is considered to be a part of ‘maintaining the canopy’ and is an eligible activity.

What is the significance of a gravel bed?

Building a gravel bed allows your organization to buy smaller stock in the spring, water throughout the summer, and plant in the fall. Gravel beds can be useful if you want to plant a single tree order over two seasons and to establish more vigorous root systems. More information can be found though the U of M Urban Forestry Outreach and Research Lab website.

Can we remove stumps?

Yes, stumps can be removed. They must be replaced 1-to-1.

Is $4,999 the total ceiling for equipment purchases as a whole, or just for each individual piece of equipment?

This amount is the maximum amount for a single item. Multiple pieces of equipment, tools, or project supplies can be purchased with grant funds, but no one tool can have a unit cost of $5,000 or more, even if that cost is split across grant and match funds.

Can applicants allocate funds toward multiple eligible project expenses? (like tree inventory and tree planting?)

Yes, you can apply for whatever eligible activities you are able to accomplish within the grant period.

Does the equipment restriction apply only to equipment purchased by the grantee? May a professional-services contract include the use of contractor-owned equipment worth more than $5,000, together with operator labor, fuel, attachments, and mobilization?

Yes, contractor costs and equipment rental can exceed $5,000. We will not fund equipment purchases for contractors.

Which activities require an ISA Certified Arborist, TCIA accreditation, or equivalent qualification? Could a land management contractor perform approved site preparation and biomass work while a qualified arborist handles tree assessment, tree-care decisions, and education?

All work conducted on residential property will either be completed by residents (tree planting only), or by tree care companies holding liability insurance and with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on staff, or Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) accreditation, or equivalent certification.

If you believe you have an ‘equivalent certification’, you must contact DNR for approval.

Additionally, any education provided through this program must be conducted by an ISA Certified Arborist, TCIA accreditation or equivalent qualification, or must qualify for ISA continuing education units. Education through Tree Trust and/or the University of Minnesota Tree Steward’s Program is also acceptable.

Can limited buckthorn or invasive-brush removal be funded when it is directly necessary to access eligible trees or establish replacement trees, even though general invasive-species removal is not a listed activity?

If the site prep is considered a necessary part of removal/planting these activities are OK. Ensure they are mentioned and described in your grant application. The widespread management of invasive species is outside the scope of this grant.

Can grant funds pay a contractor for watering, mulch, maintenance, inspections, and establishment care during the project period?

Yes, during the grant period contractors can be paid to do maintenance activities. After the grant expires/closes it is on the grantee to abide by the 3-year establishment plan.

If you opt-in to the Tree Stewards technical assistance, trained community volunteers can conduct appropriate maintenance activities outside the grant period.

If we don't have an inventory now and we want to use funds for completing the inventory and management plan as well as planting, would we be able to do that since we have to submit an inventory with the application if we plan on planting?

Yes, this is allowed. Details for all activities should be outlined in your application.

Could the grant cover continuing watering for establishment of trees previously planted but still within the 3 year establishment period?

Yes, technically this is allowed and can be incorporated into the grant application since it is maintaining or expanding grant canopy.

Would hiring a consultant to assist with developing a tree preservation ordinance be an eligible activity?

Yes, hiring a consultant to develop a tree ordinance for your community is considered “maintaining existing canopy” and is eligible for funding.

We’re interested in requesting funding that would allow the city to assist with the cost for residential removals and with that we would have an income limit. Does the DNR request that income verification documentation and if so, what would be acceptable proof of income?

Low-income is defined by the applicant for the project. Residents self-certify that they are low-income, additional documentation is not required. The DNR may request these certifications during the grant period so they should be kept on file. More information can be found in the Residential Tree Care Section of the Request for Applications.

For residential cost assistance- what level of discretion does the city have in deciding which trees are higher priority? I’m thinking that low-income households with trees that risk damaging permanent structures are a higher priority than a low-income household with trees away from permanent structures. Is there any language that would forbid the city in using their discretion to determine highest priority removals?

The city can use their discretion in prioritizing the trees to be removed and the process for this should be outlined in the application. All removed trees must be replaced. Many communities use a lottery system to determine who gets their tree removed. You can look at the structure of existing residential removal programs on the Minnesota Residential Tree Removal and Care Assistance map.

Our residents are responsible for planting and maintenance of street trees, but they are located in the right of way. Would these be considered residential trees and need to meet the low-income requirement, or would they be considered public trees?

Since the trees are technically still on city property (ROW), they are considered public trees. Homeowner responsibility for these trees would come into consideration when completing the 3-year establishment plan.

Right-of-Ways and boulevards are grey areas in our community, do trees need to be replaced in the same spot?

Trees should be planted in the same spot whenever possible and feasible. All ROW and boulevards are considered public property regardless of who is responsible for caring for the trees.

We are not within 10 miles of a generally infested area for EAB but are working on confirming a sighting in our community. If it is confirmed, can we apply for funding to treat our ash?

Yes, if you have a confirmed ID of EAB in your community by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and share their findings with us, it would be acceptable for your community to treat ash trees using grant funds.

We have a state highway going through our town, are the trees on the ROW eligible for removal/replacement?

No, tree work done in MNDOT rights-of-way is not eligible for reimbursement as MNDOT rights-of-way are considered state owned lands. There may be an exception if the city is responsible for managing the trees, contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

We would like to create an EAB plan using grant funds – who can do these and how much do they typically cost?

Plans can be written by in house staff members or by contractors/consultants. Pricing on inventories and plans can be variable depending on the size and geography of your community. We typically see inventories ranging from under $1,000 up to over $60,000 and management plans ranging $2,000-$10,000. You should reach out to contractors to get exact quotes or bids for inventories and management plans in your area to get a more precise number tailored to your community.

Can we do work on non-profit land?

Only if that land is in service to low-income residents. For example, if a nonprofit owns a low-income rental housing complex, work could be done there as it is in service to low-income residents.

Will we be scored lower if we only do work on public land and no work on residential property?

No, as long as your activities are eligible activities and you are seeking to maintain or expand your community's canopy, there is no penalization for only doing work on public lands or only doing one type of activity.

Is it common for grantees to contract out tree work?

Yes, it is fairly common for grantees to contract out tree work. Some grantees chose to do work in house, some chose to contract work or work with partnering organizations, and some approach projects with a mix of in house and contracted work.

To support our residential planting project, we will need to have an open house prior to grant execution. Is this OK?

Yes, this is OK so long as nothing from these activities is grant funded. You are encouraged to include this in your timeline as it is a part of your project but must be clear that grant funds will not be used for this activity.

If we want to do a tree planting, do we need an ISA certified arborist on staff? Or is it okay if we contract with someone to support this requirement? Would they need to be at every planting or just provide guidance?

Any plantings that are on private low-income residential land must have an ISA certified arborist, TCIA accredited tree company, or individual with equivalent certifications. This individual can be a staff member or a member of a contractor team, depending on how you format your project. If you are planting on non-state public property these qualifications are not required.

The RFP speaks to other accreditations that may qualify other than ISA/TCIA certification. What do those include?

Equivalent qualifications in lieu of ISA certification or TCIA accreditation are up to the discretion of the DNR and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The RFP states that a certified arborist should be leading education related to this grant. Could we work with an arborist to review content but present the educational workshops ourselves?

All education should be developed with an ISA Certified Arborist or someone with an equivalent qualification. It is OK for other staff to present this information, though it is advised that the ISA Certified individual is also present at these events, even if they aren’t leading them.

Can a county apply for grant funds for use in helping residents remove dead or dying ash trees from their property?

Yes, the county can apply for grant funded to remove ash trees on low-income residential property. All trees removed must be replaced 1-to-1 as close to the spot of removal as is feasible. Depending on the project, you may want to solicit a letter of support from the municipality in which these removals are occurring.

We are thinking of planting trees for this project in spring 2028. This would be the bulk of the project not including our regular outreach and community engagement programming. Is there any concern or requirement for when we implement project activities that are reimbursement eligible?

For the timeline of the project, all project activities must be after contract execution and before funding expiration (June 1, 2029) and should follow the scoring rubric at the end of the RFA. It should be OK to plant in 2028 so long as these guidelines are followed.

If you plan to do community engagement activities as a part of the project (regardless of whether they are grant funded), you are encouraged to include them in your timeline. If they are not grant funded activities, make sure that is clearly stated.

Given that the "low-income" designation is allowed to be self-certified by the landowner, is it enough that the property lies within the Underserved Communities to be eligible to receive assistance? Are all landowners that lie within those priority areas eligible, or will outside certification be required? Does low-income designation trump being within the Underserved Communities priority areas or vice versa? I work in two counties, and combined we have a lot of area within these priority areas, am I allowed to use those priority areas as the target work areas even though they cover nearly half of my counties or should I be more specific?

Low-income should have a distinct definition separate from the Priority Areas. The Priority Areas were determined by a variety of socioeconomic and demographic factors, not just low-income. We are not using the Priority Areas from 2025 ReLeaf and Community Tree Planting grants to evaluate projects and considering Priority Areas is not a required part of proposed projects, instead applicants are encouraged to consider underserved populations. You can find some examples and resources here. You are encouraged to review the rubric at the end of the RFP to see how consideration of underserved populations will be scored. Since many applicants use AMI for their definition of low-income and it can vary from county to county, you can have a different definition of low-income for each county, just ensure that is clearly stated in your application.

Are we allowed to use the grant to pay for our staff time to develop one or does an outside contractor need to be hired to develop this EAB management plan?

As a local unit of government, you must have or develop and EAB Plan or a plan with an EAB component (within the last 10 years). You may use grant funds to hire a contractor to complete this plan. Staff time for local units of government is ineligible.

Can my tree giveaway be city-wide?

Only low-income residents in the city would qualify for this, as all residential work for this grant must be low income. Applicants can determine the definition of low-income for your project.

Would a tree subsidization program require a Letter of Support from our partner organization?

Yes, all partners must submit a letter of support. The letter must identify the specific role(s) the partner organization will play throughout the project.

Is it required to plant new trees if we apply for this grant, or can we apply just to remove (and not replace) our ash trees? In one section of the request for applications it says tree removals "must be replaced at least one-for-one", then later under required documents it lists some requirements "if planting trees", suggesting that planting of trees is not necessary.

All trees that are removed using grant funds must be replaced. That “if planting trees” wording is included because you do not have to remove and plant trees for your project. For example, your project could be just an inventory and EAB management plan.

Could we use grant funding for residential tree maintenance in the form of alleyway clearance pruning?

Pruning is an eligible expense under this grant as it is considered ‘maintaining canopy’. Since staff time for local units of government is not an eligible expense, this work would likely have to be done by a contractor to be reimbursed, unless you are just looking to purchase/rent pruning equipment. All residential work must follow the guidelines in the RFA.

I need to submit an org chart as a part of the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire, but if I put names on the city’s official org chart, every employee in the city will be named. Is this what you are looking for?

The org chart should have the names and roles of all the organizational principals (for example, the head of each department). If, when reviewing your Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire, we need more information, we will reach out to you.

The trees we have on our boulevard were originally planted too close together. Do we still need to have a 1-to-1 replacement ratio?

All removals require 1:1 replacement. If you have determined, and can justify, that trees cannot be planted where they were removed, they can be planted at another nearby location (e.g., the same block, a nearby park). This must be clearly stated in your application.

What are the required certifications needed for our staff to plant the trees on the boulevard?

While are no required certifications (e.g. ISA) for tree work on city property, the rubric states ‘a high scoring applicant will have staff or contractors with a degree in a related field, or a combination/multiple staff with ISA Certified Arborist, TCIA accreditations, or both and demonstrate the capacity to successfully complete the project in the grant period (5 points)’. Also note that staff time for local units of government is not an eligible expense.

Can we pay for our staff time working on this grant using this other state grant or is this considered match? Will all our time spent administering this grant have to come from other district funds?

As far as how you pay your staff time for this grant, we don’t have specific guidance for you on what would be appropriate for your organization to explore. As we don’t require match, we won’t specifically ask you how you are paying for your staff time. Regarding using other grant funds to cover the staff time, you would need to check with the funders of the other grant if that would be allowable under the terms of their grant as we cannot determine if that would be allowable.

As part of our proposal, we may include the development of a newsletter. If funding is awarded and the newsletter is included in our approved workplan and budget, we would like to confirm whether the newsletter may feature topics beyond EAB management, such as the MN DNR Open Burning Permit program, the Carver County SWCD tree distribution program, the benefits of a healthy tree canopy, and general tree care.

Yes, you would be able to have more than just EAB related messaging within the newsletter including the topics you describe below. If you take a look at the rubric within the RFA, the following bullet point is in the Communications section: Tree care-related messaging includes EAB information designed to slow the spread, the importance of trees in communities, and/or pruning and maintenance.

As long as your newsletter is tree care-related and also includes that EAB messaging, the importance of trees in communities/benefits of a healthy canopy, AND/OR pruning maintenance/general tree care as you’ve described below it would all be allowable.

If we’re applying for work on residential land, and some of these residential trees have already had EAB treatments, can we apply for continued treatment of these trees? Or do the trees we apply to treat have to be those that have not gotten any treatment in the past?

As long as you are within the 10 mile buffer of generally infested areas or in a generally infested area, any ash tree is eligible for treatment regardless of previous treatment status. If you’ve previously treated a tree and it is up for re-treatment now you can use grant funding for the continued treatment of those trees.

Can mechanized forestry mulching be an eligible contractor expense when limited to necessary site preparation, eligible tree removal, biomass management, or establishment of replacement trees?

Yes, if it is required for site preparation it may be an eligible expense.

Can a contractor’s price include operator labor, equipment use, attachments, mobilization, fuel, and related project supplies? What quotes or cost-reasonableness documentation should the applicant provide?

The DNR cannot direct what components a private contractor includes in their pricing as long as the applicant if only applying for eligible costs or activities. What we are looking for in applications is that the applicant has an informed budget based on bids or quotes but we do not ask for those bids or quotes to be submitted with applications.

The RFA lists mulch and site preparation as eligible expenses. Could wood material generated from eligible removals be processed and retained onsite as protective ground cover when appropriate and approved in the project plan?

Wood material from tree removals could be chipped and spread onsite as part of site preparation which is an eligible cost.

What documentation is required for an educational program to qualify for ISA continuing-education units?

ISA continuing education credits are determined by the state chapter (Minnesota Society of Arboriculture). Please reach out to them for further information on what they require for documentation.

For a nonprofit school or church with 501(c) status, must privately owned property be permanently protected by a conservation easement before tree work can be funded?

Work may only occur on non-state public lands or residential properties in service to low-income residents. Any private property owned by a non-public school or church with 501© status would need to be covered by a conservation easement before tree work can be funded.

Is managing for Oak Wilt (e.g, vibratory plow, oak removal) eligible?

Yes, managing for Oak Wilt is considered “community forestry work” and is an eligible expense.

Is construction a gravel bed for reforestation efforts an eligible activity?

Yes, gravel bed construction is an eligible activity. When purchasing trees for reforestation efforts, ensure that they meet all the size and species requirements outline in the Request for Applications.

Eligible applicants

Are SWCDs (Soil and Water Conservation Districts) eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?

Yes, SWCDs are considered local units of government and are eligible to apply for funding under this grant. A full list of eligible applicants can be found further up on this webpage and in the Request for Applications (RFA).

I own five acres and am interested in the community grant for tree planting. We are working with a local nonprofit with the community garden program on site. I'd like to apply for this grant, but would like to know if we qualify.

Eligible applicants for this grant include nonprofit organizations with a 501(c) status. Applications from individual residents will not be considered. Community forestry work must be conducted on non-State public land, or on residential land for low-income residents. A full list of eligible applicants and activities can be found further up on this webpage and in the Request for Applications (RFA).

Are HOAs eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants for this grant include nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status. If your HOA has 501(c) status, then you would be eligible to apply.

If we currently have an open grant with your program (e.g., ReLeaf, Community Tree Planting, etc.), do we still qualify for this one?

Yes! Any eligible applicants may apply for this funding opportunity. This includes communities and organizations that have an open grant with our program.

We have some dead ash on our property, are we eligible to apply?

We do not provide funding directly to individual residents for tree removal or care, but residents should reach out to their community leaders to apply for funding, as communities can create programs that assist residents with the removal and replanting of trees.

How is “low-income” defined and what should be the basis used (AQI and household income, enrollment in assistance programs, other?) for determining status eligibility? To confirm, this means that any residential activities must meet this income criteria and cannot be a general program available to any household regardless of income in the community?

The definition of low-income is determined and defined by the applicant in the grant application. Many applicants use Annual Median Income (AMI) as their threshold. Though you can define it differently, so long as there is a clear income-related threshold and it is justified in the application.

Events, such as a tree planting event on public land or EAB related outreach can be open to all residents. However, work happening on residential lands such as providing residents a tree to plant on their property or having a contractor plant trees on residential properties must be limited to low-income residents only. Examples of work on low-income residential land can be found here: Minnesota Residential Tree Removal and Care Assistance.

Are community colleges eligible to apply?

Though schools are eligible to apply under this grant, many higher education institutions in the state are a part of the MNSCU system, meaning that campuses are technically state land, which is not eligible under this grant. As a school, you can still apply to conduct educational activities in surrounding neighborhoods, but you would not be allowed to remove/plant/etc. on campus.

We are a small community with low-capacity and limited forestry knowledge, can we still apply?

Yes, you may apply for this grant. Given that the community is small, you may want to consider hiring a consultant as a part of this grant to assist with forestry related tasks. Your local Soil & Water Conservation District can also be a good resource. The League of Minnesota Cities also offers a small grant to assist with grant writing.

We just found EAB on our property on our military facility. Grant sources vary in whether they consider our property state or federal. Would we be eligible to apply?

This would be considered state land and therefore ineligible for grant activities.

Our organization is an electric distribution cooperative, registered as a 501(c)12 organization. Would we be an eligible organization that can apply for this grant?

Yes, non-profit organizations with 501(c) status are eligible to apply for this grant funding.

Do we have to be a Tree City to apply for this funding?

No, your community does not have to be a Tree City USA to apply for this funding, as this is a separate program administered through the Arbor Day Foundation.

For the EAB Plan requirement, are school districts considered a local unit of government?

No, they would be considered a school and therefore exempt from the EAB Plan requirement.

What category does a Housing Redevelopment Authority fall into?

A HRA is considered a local unit of government.

If a rural homeowner fits a low-income criteria and wants to be to be considered for the grant, what is the best entity to reach out to be included in an application?

Typically Soil and Water Conservation Districts fill this role for rural communities and townships. Non-profits can also apply in these situations, as well as townships themselves.

Can one eligible lead applicant propose a coordinated project across several public schools, parks, or nonprofit partners, or must each organization submit separately?

If the entire project is under the $150,000 threshold, you can apply for a multi-partner project by having one primary applicant and letters of support for all other collaborators.

If there are several schools and/or partners and the total project is over $150,000, multiple applications can be submitted. Each organization will be awarded a maximum of $150,000.

We have a mobile home park in Hastings that has multiple dead and dying ash trees and the owners are having a difficult time paying for their removal and replacement. Can they apply for the grant as the grantee, or do they need a second party to administer the grant? If so, does the city need to be the administrator or do they need to hire it out by a private company?

Individual homeowners and/or residents cannot apply to this grant. Eligible applicants include non-profits, local units of government, schools, Tribal Communities, and Parks and Recreation Boards of the first class. One of these eligible applicants (e.g., the city) would have to the apply for the grant in coordination with the mobile home park. Private companies cannot apply to this grant but you are allowed to contract work out using grant funds.

Application

Where can the Residential Tree Care Requirements be viewed?

The Residential Tree Care Requirements are detailed in the 2026 Protect Request for Applications, which will be available on August 3rd.

I have not applied to a MN DNR Urban & Community Forestry Grant before, what will the application look like.

The application and application details will be available on this webpage on August 3rd. The required information will look similar to, but not exactly the same as, our previous grants.

Does my local unit of government need to have an EAB management plan in order to apply for this grant?

Local units of government must already have an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan in place OR they can budget the creation of a management plan into their grant proposal. We strongly recommend that all plans start with some sort of inventory (e.g., inventory of ash in parks). The most common way applicants do this is to hire a qualified arborist or consultant to do an inventory and write the plan and include the quote from that into their budget proposal.

I'm looking through the requirements for the 2026 Protect Community Forests for Community Resiliency Grant, and don't see any information on how to develop the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management Plan, or who to contact about contracting that out. Any help would be great.

We do not have specific guidance on how to develop and Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan, though many communities post them publicly on their websites. You can also find an example plan through the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee (MNSTAC) website.

At minimum we recommend that the management plan is informed by a tree inventory (e.g., survey of ash trees in city parks). As you mentioned, many communities contract out this work. As a state agency, we cannot recommend any specific organizations or companies. You may be able to find some resources on treesaregood.org, in addition to the MNSTAC resource page, linked above.

What is the 20-10-5 rule? Does this apply to public or private trees?

The 20-10-5 rules states that a community’s tree canopy should be comprised of trees with no more than 20% in a single family, 10% in a single genus, and 5% of a single species. Implementing this through our grants helps to increase canopy diversity.

TheRapid Assessment Community Tree Viewer, the data we use to determine this, covers only public trees. If your community has a recent inventory (less than 10 years) covering at least public trees that you would prefer to use, please let us know.

What is considered a shrub in the context of this grant?

For something to be considered a tree it must be 10-12 feet in height at maturity. For example, elderberry would not be considered a tree.

How does the removal of Ash trees impact/relate to underserved populations?

Underserved populations are typically characterized through economic, social, environmental, and educational inequities, among other things. As a result, these populations are often disproportionately impacted by Emerald Ash Borer. Examples include, high-value trees removed in neighborhoods that already have low tree canopy and financial restrictions to removing dangerous dead ash.

There is a list of species in the RFA that we cannot plant (e.g., tree of heaven). Does this include Japanese Tree Lilac?

Technically, you can plant Japanese Tree Lilac with this funding, though it is not recommended as it has been found to be an aggressive spreader, particularly in woodland settings.

The application (and Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire, if applicable) asks about an annual forestry budget. What does that consist of? What is it used for?

Your annual forestry budget and associated documentation can likely be pulled from the city clerk. It is used to assess the capacity of an organization to administer the grant funds that they have requested.

My organization is a state educational institution, are we eligible to apply?

Funding for this grant can only be used for activities on non-state public land or low-income residential land. As a state institution you would could not conduct work on your property, as it is state owned land.

I don’t know if our organization has audited financial statements or when they have been done. Does this all need to be completed with the application?

Yes, all pre-award risk assessment documents (if requesting $50,000 or more and not an exempt organization) need to be submitted along with your application by the application deadline.

What if you have job approval authority through NRCS and BWSR? Would that count towards ISA certification/TCIA accreditation?

Please submit any equivalent qualifications along with your application and we will consider them.

If we have grants with other state agencies do we need to fill out the grant close out form?

No, the grant close out form question is specific to organizations who have closed out a grant with DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program only. Other funding will not require this but you should incorporate other funding details into the pre-award risk assessment questionnaire if you are requesting more than $50,000.

If we have DNR staff as partners in the project, is that ok to do?

Yes, just ensure you obtain a letter of support from the DNR employee that you would like to work with on the grant objectives.

If multiple departments within an organization want to apply, how is that considered?

Your organization is reviewed as a whole. If multiple departments want to apply, you should bundle your application as an organizational application and ensure you are under the maximum award amount.

How do we determine and approve our budget for this grant if we can’t do work before the contract is signed?

You can obtain bids to write your project budget as accurately as possible. Please only as for as much funding as you can use during the grant period for grant activities.

We are an SWCD and do not have an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. However, our county has a plan. Can this county towards the requirement.

Yes, this can count towards the requirement so long as the SWCD uses and implements the county plan.

There is a requirement that a local EAB plan “must be adopted on or after May 1, 2019.”  Ours was approved prior to that date (2018) – so are we not eligible for the grant or can we amend our EAB plan to make it current?

If you are still implementing the plan that was approved in 2018, the city must formally re-adopt the plan prior to grant closeout, if you are awarded. This process should be described in your project timeline and the 2018 plan attached to your application.

On the grant application it talks about submitting maps of the locations – if we were to do a “community event” where people sign up to have a tree on their boulevard, we wouldn’t know the location until we send out the sign up. Is this kind of thing ok or do we have to have everything mapped out prior to submitting the application for the grant?

Yes, this is OK. Maps submitted as a part of the application do not have to be exact locations but can be general areas in which work will be conducted. For example, a screenshot of Google Earth with the neighborhood outlined, or a shapefile with general locations.

When defining low-income for our application does the DNR have a preference on whether applicants use the 80% AMI threshold values or would they be open to the 150% AMI values as long as the use of it for residential projects is consistent? This is in consideration of our community having a higher-than-average household income level.

DNR does not have guidance as to what AMI threshold to use to define low-income. Low-income is defined and justified by the applicant using knowledge of their community. In some cases, the grants review committee may comment on your definition or have further questions, which would be communicated with the applicant.

Who is considered a conflict-of-interest signer?

Typically, the conflict-of-interest signer is the same as the Project Coordinator. Some organizations request someone different from the Project Coordinator to sign this section of the contract.

We have an outdated inventory but are in the process of updating it. Would we still be eligible for the grant?

Yes, if your organization is working on an inventory or EAB management plan that is funded by this grant, but will be completed by June 2029, this is OK. You are encourage to mention this work in your application to provide context to the grant review committee.

What sort of detail are you looking for in the 3-year establishment plan? Is it OK for residents to take care of boulevard trees?

All questions in the establishment plan form should have detailed responses. Residents can do basic care for boulevard trees (e.g., watering) and this should be noted.

We are not sure who are contractor is going to be, do we need to have a letter of support if we are planning to use a contractor?

If your organization has not yet determined what contractor you will use, you do not need to have a letter of support. It should be noted in the Key Personnel that a contractor will be used, along with the qualifications that will be required of them when you publish the request for bids.

Why are you asking for our annual forestry budget? How is this considered in the application?

The annual forestry budget will be requested either in the application portal (if you are requested less than $50,000) or in the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire (if requesting $50,000 or more). This is to help us determine organizational capacity to administer the grant and is not a scored section of your application.

Is ISA Certification required for this grant? What about a pesticide license?

Work on residential land must be conducted by companies or organizations with an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on staff, Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) accreditation, or equivalent qualification. Similarly, any education provided through this program must be conducted by an ISA Certified Arborist, TCIA accreditation or equivalent qualification, or must qualify for ISA continuing education units. A pesticide license is required to treat ash trees with an injectable non-neonicotinoid insecticide (i.e., emamectin benzoate).

Do we have know exactly where trees will be removed when applying?

No, you do not need to know the exact trees that will be removed, a general map of proposed grant activities is sufficient.

We are working on our EAB Plan right now and it will be done before the end of the grant period. Can we use this Plan to fulfill the requirement of this grant?

Yes, you can use this plan to fulfill this requirement. It must be submitted to DNR before the end of the grant period.

In the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire question #7, what does the annual operating budget cover?

The annual operating budget covers all of your organization’s forestry activities, including money spent on maintenance, planting, contractors, salary, etc.

Do proposed grant activities have to be in an Environmental Justice or Priority Area?

No, grant activities are not restricted by Environmental Justice and/or Priority Areas. You are encouraged to consider underserved populations. Consideration of underserved populations is a scored aspect of your grant application.

Is there a document for everything we need for the application?

Yes, all documentation is linked on this grants webpage. You will complete and save the documentation, gather other required information listed on the application form, and attach everything in the application portal.

What is the typical length of a project?

All grant work must start after the contract execution date and conclude prior to funding expiration. Some grantees do not take the entire grant period and you can propose projects that conclude before funding expiration.

Our city has a management plan, as a Housing Redevelopment Authority for the same city, do we need to get a new one?

A new plan is not necessary as long as the plan has been adopted or re-adopted prior to June 1, 2019.

What level of detail do the submitted maps need to have?

You do not need to know exactly where you will be conducting grant activities, but provide a general area (e.g., x park, y neighborhood, etc). DNR may ask questions if your map is not detailed enough. screenshots, PDFs, and shapefiles are accepted.

For local governments who have procurement requirements, could procurement for, say, a contractor begin before March 3 since that process is not part of reimbursable expenses, and we just wait until after grant agreement execution to sign a contract with a contractor?

Yes, you can start procurement before grant execution if it is not grant funded. However, there is always a risk that the contract cannot be executed.

Who carries responsibility for the remainder of the required three-year establishment plan after the grant closes?

After the grant expires/closes it is on the grantee to abide by the 3-year establishment plan. If you opt-in to the Tree Stewards technical assistance, trained community volunteers can conduct appropriate maintenance activities outside the grant period.

Is 3-year maintenance on residential property required?

Yes, residents are required to sign a waiver for trees planted on private property. Specific language is provided in the Request for Applications.

Is there a minimum number or percentage of ash trees required in the community for them to eligible for this grant?

No there is not.

If we are using the program for removal assistance for low-income residential families, are we required to have a tree replacement plan for those trees removed on private residential property?

Yes, all trees that are removed must be replaced 1-to-1. If a resident does not want a replacement tree, their denial must be documented and the tree must be planted elsewhere. See the Request for Applications for more details.

Do we need to have a 3-year establishment plan if we are only doing residential plantings?

Yes, you must still submit a 3-year establishment plan. Residential agreements also contain language outlining their responsibilities for the planted tree.

Regarding the Key Personnel section on the application - We will have many people involved in the execution of our project including staff supporting grant administration, to arborists planting trees, and their supervisors. This can be more than 30 people and more if we include seasonal staff. Do you want a complete list of all staff involved, their roles, certifications, and experience? Or will a general description of staff, roles, and experience/certifications suffice?

Applicants are encouraged to put as much detail as possible since we use this section, along with the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire to determine your organization’s capacity to complete the proposed grant activities. You can see the items you will be scored on in the rubric at the end of the Request of Applications.

Our organization does not have the ability to submit our data in a shapefile format – are there any other options?

Map in the application for this grant should show general area for work (e.g., x park, y neighborhood, etc). Screenshots and PDFs are accepted if you do not have shapefile generating software.

If awarded, screenshots and PDFs are accepted if you don’t have shapefile generating software. The DNR also has some mapping resources available to grantees.

If you have already done EAB work in your community, are you disqualified from applying?

If your community has already started removing/treating ash trees and mitigating the effects of EAB, you can apply to this funding. If awarded, grantees cannot receive reimbursement for costs incurred prior to contract execution.

What is accepted as a forestry budget? We are a small community and don’t have a dedicated budget.

You can submit a Public Works budget or, if your community is a Tree City USA, use that information for your budget. If your community has not budget for forestry related activities, note that in the proper place in the application.

The forestry budget is used by DNR to determine the capacity of your organization.

For our forestry budget, does it matter what year we submit?

Submit the most recent budget you have on file prior to the grant deadline on September 14th.

Where should we start as a community?

We recommend communities start with an inventory and management plan especially for local units of government as a management plan informed by an inventory is required by the end of the grant period. Once you have an inventory and management plan in place, your ability to plan work like removals and replacements becomes much easier to navigate.

Will DNR be reading our applications beforehand or providing additional support?

No, the DNR unfortunately cannot read applications ahead of the deadline and provide feedback or additional supports. We can answer questions you have about the grant until August 31st.

Can we provide a supplemental timeline in spreadsheet form instead of typing it in to the application?

You must fill out the budget explanation section of the application form but you may also attach a supplemental timeline spreadsheet if you wish.

What would be considered site prep in the budget form?

Mechanical and/or chemical treatments necessary to prepare an area for planting excluding soil amendments and major grade changes. Examples of eligible site preparation include chemical spraying to remove invasive species in a planting area, forestry mulching a planting area to remove competing vegetation, etc.

Do you have to be in a county or area that is generally infested with EAB or under quarantine to qualify for grant funding?

No, you do not have to be in a generally infested area or county to be eligible for funding. The only geographical restriction on this funding tied to generally infested areas is for chemical treatment. In order to be eligible for chemical treatment activities, you must be inside or within 10 miles of a generally infested area.

We are planning to do low-income residential removals and plantings and have a general cost estimate, but do not have exact removal/replacement numbers. Is this OK? If awarded, is there flexibility during the grant period?

Yes, this is OK, and there is some flexibility that we can offer in this scenario. Regardless of your proposed project, you will be asked to report anticipated project deliverables in your application. If awarded, this will be incorporated into your contract and you will work with your grant administrator if there are any changes.

Can DNR review my grant application before submitting to ensure everything is there?

No, DNR does not review grant application prior to submission.

Does DNR assist with the bidding process?

If awarded, our capacity to assist with the bidding process is limited. We cannot assist you with writing the documentation but can review completed documentation for compliance with grant requirements. The Grantee is required to comply with Minnesota Statutes § 471.345, Uniform Municipal Contracting Law.

I see that you do not need to already know exactly which trees are going to be removed for a project application, but is it enough to highlight where the Underserved Community priority areas are and say that the outreach will target landowners in those areas?

Yes, a general area of work is acceptable in the application. All removals and plantings must be on low-income residential land regardless of whether or not they are located in the Priority Area, as Priority Areas are not a consideration in this grant.

Can we state that outreach to landowners in our project area will begin after being awarded the grant, or should we already have a plan in place with specific landowners and certified contractors in place? Will doing this more vague plan make our application less competitive?

Yes, you can conduct outreach and hire contractors after being awarded the grant, especially since any expenses incurred prior to contract execution are not eligible for reimbursement. Your application score will not be reduced because of this so long as the timeline, community impact, and communication sections follow what is outlined in the rubric.

If we do not have a specific EAB management plan in place, but EAB is mentioned in some of our WBIF watershed plans, does this qualify as an EAB management plan?

If you think you WBIF watershed plan may qualify and you implement the items outlined in the plan, you can send it to us for review at [email protected], and we can make a determination for whether it would fulfill this requirement.

Can an application for the 2026 Protect Community Forests for Community Resiliency Grant be two-tiered, with one part used for funding community tree sales and the other part used for purchasing treatment materials for public ash trees?

Yes, applications to this grant can include as many eligible activities as you can reasonably complete in the grant period.

We want to subsidize the cost of trees for our residents, but the number of trees sold each year varies considerably and costs would be hard to quantify. Could we logically request enough funding to make trees either free or extremely low price for three years’ worth (2027-2029) of community tree sales?

Selling trees purchased using grant funds is an ineligible expense, though you can subsidize tree cost for residents using grant funds. For example, for a $50 tree the low-income resident pays a $20 deposit and the grant covers $30.Tree giveaways to residents are also allowed so long as the residents self-certify they are low-income and you follow all the residential guidelines listed in the Request for Applications.

How should we break down construction costs for building a gravel bed? How specific should it be?

You do not need to itemize this unless that is what makes the most sense for your project. You could include the cost as a single line. For example, “Gravel Bed Construction (bed foundation and exterior materials, pea gravel, irrigation, etc.)”. Ensure that no single item has a unit cost of $4,999.00 or higher.

General

How many applications do you anticipate for this grant? How much money will be requested?

This is hard to determine for an open application. However, 2025 ReLeaf and Community Tree Planting Grants had $12 million available, with $40 million in requests.

Is the amount that is requested by an applicant scaled based on the money that is available or are they awarded what they are requested?

This depends on how the review process goes. Many eligible applicants are awarded the full amount that they request. However, there are a couple of parts of the review process that could result in an award reduction:

1. Based on their scoring of the application and subsequent discussion, the review committee decides to reduce funding. The committee reviews applications from highest average score to lowest average score until funding runs out. Funding decisions are made at an in-person meeting after all applications have been scored on an individual basis.

2. Risk is identified when reviewing the pre-award risk assessment questionnaire and part of the mitigation plan is to reduce the award.

How does the reimbursement payment work?

Payment is made on a reimbursement basis with 90% of all reimbursement being issued as approved by DNR and 10% being retained until grant close out.

Can we use this funding as match for other grants through the federal government?

We cannot answer that question, you would need to ask the federal entity if they would allow that. We ask that you not submit match to us as part of this grant.

If we are awarded and we end up coming under budget on activities, could we add deliverables to expand our project during the grant timeline?

Yes, you would be able to do additional work with funding if you ended up having additional funding remaining during the project. Please obtain bids and write your project budget as accurately as possible and only ask for as much funding as you can use during the grant period for grant activities.

Is this a multi-year grant?

If awarded, your organization would have until June 1, 2029 to complete all grant activities.

Will this funding be offered again?

This is a one-time legislative appropriation that our program applied to through LCCMR.

Are there any resources that show general prices and/or vendors for community forestry activities?

As a state agency, we cannot recommend a specific contractor, though you can find information about this by contacting nearby communities, finding a certified arborist through treesaregood.org, or looking at the Tree Care Industry Association directory.

Do we have to file Declarations and Certifications on the land for this grant?

No, this is only required for Bonding grants.

What is considered ‘end of day’ for the application close?

The grant application will close on 11:59pm on September 14. You are encouraged to submit your application earlier, as we do not staff after 4:30pm.

Will DNR publish a list of awarded grantees and project contacts, or maintain a contractor/vendor directory.

As a state agency we also cannot endorse a specific company to perform contracted grant activities and do not maintain a contractor/vendor directory. The names of grantees are not public information until all contracts are executed. A list of grantees from previous grant programs is posted publicly on our website.

We have an active 2026 ReLeaf grant but will not begin using this funding until later this fall (tree maintenance). How might this affect our application for this grant even if the planned eligible activities are unrelated to ReLeaf activities?

When reviewing open grants, we are looking for large awards that are unexpended and have no progress. If we see this we may ask follow up questions about your open grant, which may include requesting invoices or asking about progress. This is because we want you to use all funding that you were awarded.

Does DNR have suggestions on what tree species to plant?

The DNR has requirements on what you cannot plant and can provide specific guidance on tree species as you have questions. For the species you cannot plant, please reference the ineligible expenses portion of the Request for Applications.

Can DNR review applications before they are submitted?

No, DNR cannot review and provide comments on applications.

After submitting my application through the application portal, I could not go back and edit my answers.

The application review page in the portal is the last change you have to make edits to your application. You can use the back button to navigate to previous questions and adjust your answers. Once the next button is clicked on the application review page, the application is submitted. See the webinar recording on the grants webpage for more detailed information.

Will applying for less than the maximum award make my application more competitive? Should I be proactive and ask for less to increase the chances of receiving an award or will this not impact the competitiveness of our application?

The amount of funding you apply for does increase or decrease the likelihood you will be awarded. You should ensure that you can reasonably spend the amount of money that you request in your application and that your budget is as accurate as possible.

If we apply for this grant and get selected, does that mean we are locked in? Or is there an option to turn down the grant if something changes during the agreement negotiations?

You are not “locked in” until the contract is signed and executed. If awarded you will have a chance to turn down the funding during the contract negotiation process.

Review process

Is it possible to be awarded for less than we request in our application? Would we be able to amend what we would like to use funding for if reduced?

Yes, the scoring by the review committee and/or findings from the Pre-Award Risk Assessment may result in a reduction in funding. Because your application becomes your contract, you will be given a chance to updated your activities and timeline accordingly.

Are smaller communities prioritized in the review process?

There is no prioritization for community size in this grant. Projects will be funded based on the scores from the review committee and the results of the Pre-Award Risk Assessment.

Can you describe the LCCMR review and presentation process, and who is likely to be on the review committee?

The grants review committee is determined by DNR and is typically comprised of UCF program staff, industry representatives, individuals from the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee, citizen volunteers, and local units of government. Once applications are submitted they are sent to these grant reviewers who score each application according to the rubric. All reviewers then meet in-person to discuss scores and finalize awards. At the same time the DNR will work through the Pre-Award Risk Assessment process. These two things together are what determines who is awarded and how much.

As it relates to the review process, it says on LCCMR website that a presentation before the LCCMR is required, after the initial review process. Is this true for this grant?

The presentation requirement is a requirement of applying for LCCMR funding. We (UCF program) fulfilled that requirement in order to have the funding awarded to our program. Technically 2026 Protect is a sub-grant program so only the guidelines in the Request for Applications are required of applicants to 2026 Protect.

Comments from our last grant application show that the review committee reduced our award because of capacity concerns. How do we mitigate that when applying to this grant?

To address capacity concerns from a previous grant in your application, ensure that the Key Personnel section is complete, detailed, and follows the rubric. If you have a Past Grant Closeout that notes something similar, include an explanation in the past grant performance review question along with step being taken to mitigate this concern.