2025 ReLeaf Community Forestry Grants

Are there any guidelines or constraints for maintenance pruning?

Pruning will be required to follow best management practices as outlined in ANSI A300 and the USFS Tree Owners Manual.

Are spaded trees an eligible expense for these grants?

Unfortunately, we are unable to allow trees larger than those outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA) document. Please review the RFA to review the bareroot, container, and balled and burlap stock restrictions.

What is the minimum set of TCIA credentials or accreditation staff of an organization would need to meet for of the first eligible activity: "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 ISA on staff, TCIA accreditation, or equivalent qualification."

In regard to the TCIA accreditation, we would expect a company or organization to prove they are accredited through this process: TCIA Accreditation - Tree Care Industry Association, LLC. 
Within the accreditation program, companies are evaluated based on their adherence to ANSI A300 and ANSI Z133 standards, training and professional staffing levels, and dedication to ethical and quality business practices. A company should hold the accreditation as a whole to use that TCIA accreditation as their qualification for doing work on residential land.

If a city has received UCF grant in the past, but some of those trees have since died, could the grant funds be used to replace them?

It is the responsibility of the grantee to replace any dead trees paid for by grant funding. This is typically written into a grantee’s contract. In some cases, however, it can depend on the grant. Any further questions about this can be directed to [email protected].

Can grant funds be used to prepare and mail Emerald Ash Borer educational materials to all residents?

Yes, based on the eligible activities listed in the Request for Applications, the creation and dissemination of EAB educational materials can be funded by ReLeaf.

Is stump removal an eligible activity when the tree was lost to a storm event?

Stump removal/grinding is an eligible activity. Stump removals from boulevards and manicured parks must be replaced at a 1-to-1 ratio, and trees must be replanted at the same location of the removal whenever possible and feasible.

How is low-income defined for residential work?

Work on residential land can only be conducted on a property in service to low-income residents. The definition of low-income must be defined and reasonably justified by the applicant and submitted to the DNR. (pg. 5 of ReLeaf RFA).

Can you apply for multiple types of activities for each grant?

Yes, you can. As long as you are requesting funding for eligible expenses and activities and are under the maximum award amount, you can combine different activities under the same grant application such as obtaining a tree inventory and management plan and also doing removals and replacements.

Application

Would a project focusing on maintenance pruning be considered for award?

Pruning projects are an eligible activity and a project focusing on pruning would be reviewed the same way as a planting and/or removal project under the ReLeaf grant program.

Is an EAB Management Plan sufficient for the ReLeaf Management Plan requirement for local units of government?

An EAB Management Plan would be sufficient to meet the local unit of government management plan requirement.

If we specify the entire city as our project are and only 17% of the city is in the Priority Area, should we claim 17% even if most of the work is not in the Priority Area?

The amount of work that you would do with grant funding in the Priority Area is what you should report. For example, if you are spending 20% of total grant costs on pruning within the Priority Areas then you would report 20% in the grant application regardless of how much of your city lies within the Priority Area.

Many cities are not within the Priority Areas identified on the Priority Area map. Given how competitive the last round of funding was, should cities outside the priority area still apply for the grant funds?

Eligible applicants outside of the Priority Areas are welcome to apply for the grant funding. Grant applications will be sorted into tiers for review order based on whether they meet the priorities for each grant (review the prioritization elements in the Request for Applications). Applications who score highest in priority will be prioritized for awards though it is possible applicants who do not score high in prioritization may be awarded if Tier A and B are not competitive.

If a city has an existing grant open, do you still need the grant closeout form for the ‘Past Grant Performance’ park of the application?

No, you do not need the grant closeout form for a currently open grant, because there would not be one. However, your current grant performance is a consideration as a part of the Pre-Award Risk Assessment. Email [email protected] if you are not sure if your community has had a UCF grant in the past.

What is the highest priority scoring a city can receive if it is not in a Priority Area? How would this be scored if a city has very few Priority Areas?

If a community applying to ReLeaf, the highest Priority Score is zero points. However, whether the application is funded depends on many other factors, including how many applications are submitted, their Priority Scores, applications scores, and how much funding is requested.
If a community has very few priority areas, applicants are encouraged to examine multiple ways of justifying the Project Priority. For example, the Priority Area may be a small percentage of community land, but does it have a high population density? Is a higher proportion of the project budget going to this area (especially if there are multiple activities happening in this area)?

What does good standing with Secretary of State in the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire mean?

This requirement only applies to non-profit organizations. To determine if your organization is in good standing with the Secretary of State, you

1. Search for your organization’s name on the following webpage: https://mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/Business/Search
2. Click ‘Details’
3. Review ‘Status’
4. Complete question 11 in the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire

We are hiring a contractor to plant balled and burlap trees. How do you navigate the MNDOT certification requirement in this scenario?

If your community plans to plant Balled and Burlap trees through a contractor, the contractor (i.e., the planting organization) must complete the MNDOT Certified Landscape Specialist training. This should be detailed in the ‘Key Personal’ section of the application.

Why is match not encouraged?

Match is not encouraged because grantees must be held accountable for the match submitted in their applications. If a grantee has, but cannot meet match, then grant funds may be withheld.

What is there has been an extreme weather event that has reduced canopy since the last canopy assessment or inventory? What if a species falls outside of the 20-10-5 guidelines, but has cultural significance to the area?

Grantees are encouraged to justify any decisions regarding the Species & Stock list in the submitted application.

What if the most recent closeout form for a community is not detailed?

If the provided closeout form does not have much detail and contains no constructive comments, assume that the grant was closed in good standing.

Can we apply for both Community Tree Planting and ReLeaf? Can we be awarded both?

Yes, communities may apply for both grants; however, project details for each grant should be separate and distinct. It is possible that you could be awarded both but may be unlikely due to differing prioritization metrics and unique characteristics of each grant.

Budget

What if trees are not available at nurseries? What if we can’t spend all the funding?

If funding is not spent by the June 30th, 2027, deadline set by the Legislature, the money returns to the General Fund. Returning funds in this way makes it appear that communities did not need the money allocated for these grants.
If all funds cannot be spent within the grant period, grantees should notify UCF staff as soon as possible so it can be reallocated.

What if the cost of materials change? Can budgets be flexed or reallocated?

It is not uncommon for the cost of materials and activities to change in the time between the application and the work period. If costs change, grantees are responsible for the utilizing the total amount awarded and all achievements listed in the grant contract, but budgets can be reallocated to accommodate changing costs. If grant costs change during the grant period, inform your DNR grant administrator for steps on how to navigate budget modification.

Eligible Applicants

Is a nonprofit healthcare facility eligible for the ReLeaf Grant?

Yes, as long as the applicant has 501c designation they are eligible to apply for this grant.