2025 ReLeaf Community Forestry Grants

a new tree planed along the boulevard

Grant overview

The Minnesota Legislature allocated $7 million to the ReLeaf program to improve community forest health.

Funding can support tree inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, and restoration. This year, wood utilization projects are also eligible.

The maximum grant request is $500,000, and no match is required.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status, educational institutions, and local units of government within Minnesota, including cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers boards, towns, and Tribal governments. Parks and recreation boards in cities of the first class are also eligible to apply. Consistent with legislative direction, priority for grant awards will be given to projects located in areas with a supplemental demographic index score of 70 percent or higher based on five socioeconomic factors: percent low-income, percent persons with disabilities, percent less than high school education, percent limited English speaking, and low life expectancy. More details are available in the Grant Priorities section of the request for application.

Eligible activities

  • Community forestry work conducted on non-state public land, or on residential land for low-income residents (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)
  • Work conducted by staff or contractors
  • Tree inventories
  • Developing a management plan, which can include but is not limited to a forestry-related climate adaption plan, all lands management plan, or emerald ash borer management plan. Incorporation of environmental justice components and wood utilization components into management plans is encouraged.
  • Tree and stump removal and tree replacement
  • Tree planting for diversity
  • Chemical treatment of ash trees with an injectable non-neonicotinoid insecticide (e.g. emamectin benzoate) if it provides long-term impact or seed funds an intended long-term program in communities up to 10 miles outside of generally infested areas across Minnesota (please see online guidance for more information)
  • Gravel bed construction and maintenance
  • Developing a tree ordinance
  • Tree cabling, if a long-term evaluation plan is included
  • Maintenance pruning
  • Development, purchase, or printing of materials used to educate, engage, and conduct outreach to residents about urban and community forestry
  • Urban and community forestry or arboriculture education and outreach
  • Professional certifications and/or training related to the proposed project
  • Wood utilization
  • Additional plant healthcare treatments, as approved

If selected, grantees may only incur eligible expenditures after the grant contract is fully executed.

Project timeline:

  • Application Available: August 13, 2025
  • Application Questions due: October 14, 2025
  • Applications Due: October 28, 2025
  • Project Selection, Grant Agreement Negotiations Begin: December 1, 2025-January 23, 2026
  • Work Plans Approved, Contracts Executed, Grant Work Begins: April 15, 2026
  • All Grant Work Completed, Final Reimbursement Request Submitted By: June 30, 2027

How to apply

A complete application will consist of the following:

  1. Request for application
  2. Application form
  3. Budget
  4. Application identifies locations of grant project work. Submission must show whether work will take place within the Priority Areas: Application states:

    • that project work is taking place community-wide based on your organization’s geographic purview; or
    • that work will only take place within areas identified by the supplemental demographic index; or
    • that no project work will take place within the supplemental demographic index.
    • Maps are provided, showing project area (ex. printing screenshot of Priority Area map, outlining project area, scanning, and submitting with application;)
  5. 3-Year Tree Establishment Plan for newly-planted trees, if planting trees
  6. Species and Stock List from which trees will be planted, if planting trees (any format acceptable; contact [email protected] with questions about species eligibility)
  7. Local units of government, submit a management Plan, if already completed (local units of government must have adopted on or after June 30, 2017, and submitted with their application or plan to adopt a management plan through this grant process- if your community does not have a management plan in place, budget for the cost of obtaining one during this grant program)
  8. Letter(s) of support, if collaborating with an outside organization (any format acceptable)
  9. Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire and associated financial documents, if applicant is requesting $50,000 or more in grant funds. Tribal governments are exempt from this requirement. (PDF, format unchanged)
  10. List of Authorized Signer(s), including name(s), title(s), and email address(es). (Any format acceptable)

Here is a checklist that is not required, but may be helpful as you navigate the application process.

Please reach out if you need help or have questions! [email protected]

After reading the Request for Applications, complete all parts of the application found above. Email completed applications to [email protected] (only emailed applications will be accepted). Applications must be received by October 28, 2025 to be considered eligible for funding.

Informational sessions

Office hours

Staff will be hosting several virtual office hour sessions. To sign up for office hours visit the links below.

In-person and webinar option

Please join us for an overview of both the ReLeaf and Community Tree Planting Grants. You can attend in person or join us online via webinar. A link to the recording will be posted here. We will discuss the application process, budgets, timelines, and any questions you may have.

  • August 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155. If attending in person, please park in the yellow visitor parking lots identified on the parking map and check in at the front desk upon arrival with your vehicle information.
  • To join the meeting virtually, join via the Webex link or dial +1-415-655-0003 and enter meeting number 2482 883 3495.

In-person grant overview sessions

We will be traveling across the state hosting nine in-person sessions to help answer any questions communities might have about the grant.

  • August 25 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Two Harbors Public Library, Meeting Room, 320 Waterfront Drive, Two Harbors, MN 55616
  • August 27 from 1:20 to 3:00 p.m. at Bemidji Public Library, Meeting Room, 509 America Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
  • August 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Marshally-Lyon County Library, Minnesota Room, 201 C Street, Marshall, MN 56258
  • September 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Rochester Park Board Space, Police DSIC NW B163 A Classroom, 4001 W. River Parkway, NW Rochester, MN 55901
  • September 5 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Nokomis Public Library, Nokomis Meeting Room, 5100 34th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55417
  • September 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Blue Earth Public Library, BEC Conference Room, 100 E Min Street, Mankato, MN 56001
  • September 18 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th S. Moorhead, MN 56560
  • September 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Morris Public Library 102 E. 6th St., Morris, MN 56267

Match Requirement

No matching funds are required. Please do not submit a match as part of your application.

FAQs

Please submit additional questions to [email protected] by October 14. Answers to frequently asked questions will be posted weekly. Questions from previous grants can be viewed here.

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