2025 Community Tree Planting Grants

Are local units of government that are not listed in the RFA eligible to apply? For example, a regional development commission?

Only the listed local units of government are eligible applicants for this funding. Other types of local units of government should look at the ReLeaf program instead as it has an expanded eligible applicant criteria.

Eligible Activities

Can I send in my application for proofreading prior to submitting?

No, DNR cannot proofread your application, as application assistance of this sort was not incorporated into the grant release. If applicants have any questions about the completeness of their application (i.e., proper forms/documentation), they should review the grant application checklist, linked above.

Would providing trees to community members be an eligible project?

Tree plantings can be done on private residential lands including tree giveaways. If using a tree giveaway method, grantee must provide tree planting education and materials.

Is tree planting education an eligible expense?

Tree planting education is an ineligible expense/activity under the Community Tree Planting Grants. Eligible activities for this grant include:
(1) removing and planting shade trees on public or Tribal land to provide environmental benefits;
(2) replacing trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storms on public or residential land;
(3) establishing a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests on public or residential land.
If grantees are interested in incorporating an education component that is paid for by grant funds, urban and community forestry or arboriculture education and outreach is an eligible activity under the 2025 ReLeaf grant.

Can stump removal & replacement in a Priority Area be considered in the project priority score?

Yes, in the Request for Applications the threshold for the second scored priority (Project in Priority Area) is that the project occurs fully or mostly in a census block group at or above the 70th percentile SDI, regardless of the species of trees removed or whether they pose a public safety risk. Therefore, any eligible activities that occur in the Priority Areas will be considered for the second scored priority.

Could a city apply for the grant in partnership with a property management company to remove and/or replant trees on a private residential site?

The Community Tree Planting Grant allows for replacing trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storms on residential land, as well as planting trees to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests on residential land. In short, planting on residential land is an eligible activity under this grant but removals can only occur on public land.
Any 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.
Note: Letters of support are required if collaborating with an outside organization. This is to ensure that they are aware of and agree to support the project.

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.

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].

Is stump removal an eligible activity when the tree was lost to a storm event? Can this count as a removal/replacement in the Priority Score calculation?

Stump removal/grinding is an eligible activity. Stump removal from boulevards and manicured parks must be replaced at a 1-to1 ratio, and trees must be replanted at the same location of the removal whenever possible and feasible.
In the Priority Score calculation only Ash trees that currently pose a public safety concern will be considered. If Ash trees were lost or removed (even if the stump remains) as the result of an extreme weather event prior to the grant period, this will not count as a removal.

Does residential work have to be low-income?

No, the Request for Applications only specifies ‘residential property’. It is not limited to low-income residential properties.

Is it acceptable to apply for a grant so that more funding can be allocated to another project that may not be eligible for funding?

Yes, this is acceptable so long as the items proposed in the application are eligible activities. Grantees are encouraged to describe all impacts of the funding throughout their application.

My community’s proposed project is scheduled to start this year. If awarded, is my community eligible to receive reimbursement for costs incurred prior to the grant period?

No, project work and expenses that are eligible for reimbursement with grant funds CANNOT be started or incurred until the grant contract is fully executed.

Is one to one removal and replanting required?

Yes, for street and park trees there is a one-to-one replacement required. For natural settings there is a five to one replacement (remove five and replace them with one).

Can you do removals on right of ways and how do you define right of ways? Can you replant removals in the front yard behind the right of way?

Yes, you can do removals in the right of way as long as it is publicly owned land. Right of ways are defined using the individual municipality definition of their right of ways. Plantings can be done on private property but replacements of removals should happen within the right of way.

What is an example of planting on residential land?

Planting on residential land can take many different forms, depending on community needs and project type. A common example of this is to host a tree giveaway for residents.

I am hoping to reimburse landowners for contracted tree removal through a licensed professional and reimbursement for new tree purchases and materials for maintenance (mats, growing tubes, etc). I am curious how reimbursement works for paying landowners. How would I tackle this?

Paying staff and contractors are an eligible expense, but providing direct payment to a resident is not. Organizations serving residents will need to work with and pay a contractor directly. Organizations should structure their grant to cover the costs of plantings in full for residents but other arrangements (covering a percentage of the costs and resident covering the remainder) may be considered.
Please note removals can only be done on public lands (including public right of ways) for Community Tree Planting Grants.

Application

Do we need to have a City Council resolution for one or both of these grants?

No, you do not need a City Council resolution in order to apply for either ReLeaf or Community Tree Planting Grants. You do, however, need to provide Letters of Support if you will be collaborating with an outside organization.

Do you have the code dictionary from the EJ atlas or can you clarify the definitions of these factors given in the map to ensure I calculate the percentile accurately?

The data for this map was originally found in the EPA’s EJScreen tool. More information on how this was calculated can be found in the EJScreen Technical document here.

Is there any data on number of households, LMI levels, or other data that could be passed along to us?

Please reach out to UCF staff at [email protected] for specific information and data related to your community’s demographics.

I think the best way to describe my proposal for grant funding is to do so through maps and quite a few attachments. If I use a large number of attachments to our application, will it diminish our chances of receiving funding?

Including a large number of attachments will not negatively impact the competitiveness of your application. We encourage grantees to provide as much information as is needed to show the scope of their proposed work and understand that a complete application requires multiple documents.

Where can I access the documents needed for the Pre-Award Risk Assessment?

All required documentation for Pre-Award Risk Assessments can be found on our grant webpages as fillable PDFs.

How are hazard trees determined and who is responsible for determining that?

Hazard trees are identified by a qualified tree care professional, usually a certified arborist, who looks at a trees health and structure to see if it poses a safety risk.

I am having trouble accessing the RFA and Application PDFs.

We made some updates to the RFAs, you will need to clear your browser cache and the applications will open.

I was just on the priority map for our area and saw that more of our community is now incorporated in the priority area. Has something changed in the last few days?

We updated our Priority Area map this week to reflect the EJScreen Supplemental Demographic Index data as compared to the state rather than to the US. This resulted in more areas being included in the Priority Map and we have also extended the deadlines for both grants, applications are now due October 27th for Community Tree Planting and November 11th for ReLeaf.

Does this grant program require a resolution of support from the LGU to designate an authorized signer?

We do not need a formal resolution of support from your LGU to designate an authorized signer. From our end, we just need the information outlined in the application for those authorized signers in order to create the contract.

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. 
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.

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 my community isn’t removing any ash trees, just replacing ones that have already been lost or damaged in a weather event?

In the Priority Scoring Rubric & Prioritization Workbook, 1 ash removal of public safety concern and 1 replacement = 1.
If Ash trees were lost or removed as the result of an extreme weather event prior to the grant period, this would not count as a removal.
Grantees are encouraged to explore the calculations and outputs in the Prioritization Workbook to maximize the Priority Score, as well as justify any decision 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.

Do the exact locations of grant activities need to be known at the time of application?

Exact locations of work using grant funds (e.g., planting, removal, pruning, etc.) do not need to be submitted with the application. Acceptable location descriptions of proposed grant activities include, but are not limited to, street names, neighborhoods, parks, trails, and priority areas.

Who is considered an authorized signer?

Authorized signers can vary depending on community/organizational requirements. Examples may include the Public Works Director, mayor, city clerk, or other individuals that play a prominent role in the proposed project.

Does the timeline I submit as part of my grant application have to be exactly the same as what happens throughout the grant period if my community is awarded?

No, timelines can change due to a variety of reasons. If a project’s timeline deviates from what was originally proposed, grantees will work with their grant administrator to determine how to move forward.

Is there a certain amount or percentage of awards/funding that will be going to the metro vs. Outstate Minnesota?

the Request for Applications. These prioritization metrics do not include a certain percentage for each portion of the state.

Are the previous DNR Grants asked about in the Pre-Award Risk Assessment questionnaire the same as the grant closeouts mentioned on the last page of the application?

Yes and no. Question 2 in the Pre-Award Risk Assessment Questionnaire is referring to all DNR grants (including UCF). This information is used to determine if risk mitigation strategies need to be discussed and developed, should the grant be awarded.
The past grant performance question on the final page of the application is referring only to grants that applicants have had with the Urban & Community Forestry Program. This information is considered in application scoring (pg. 13 of RFA).

What determines good standing for a grant closeout?

Good standing on the grant closeout is determined by grantee communication and reporting throughout the grant period. For example, submitting reports in a complete and timely manner, communicating with grant administrator any major changes, and using all grant funds.

The RFA states "All trees removed and planted on public property must be mapped and submitted as shapefiles, with the planted trees identified by species." We do not have shapefile generating software. How to we submit maps?

For the purposes of the application, PDF maps of the project area are preferred.
If awarded, grantees without access to shapefile generating software may be able to submit PDF maps or work with their grant administrator to utilize mapping resources available through DNR.

The website says that the questions are due by October 14, 2025. Does that mean that we cannot ask any questions after this date?

Questions for Community Tree Planting grants must be submitted prior to 10/14/2025. This allows DNR staff to post the questions on the website FAQ, so the information is available to everyone for a period of time prior to the application deadline.

On the pre-award risk assessment questionnaire, it says that we must sign with a digital signature, if we aren't able to do that are we allowed to print off the questionnaire sign it in person, then just rescan the document with our signature or will only digital signatures be accepted?

Though digital signatures are preferred, as instructed in the form, wet signatures are also accepted.

Reimbursement

How much is retained at every reimbursement request until the end of the grant?

All complete reimbursement requests received by the deadlines will be reviewed by DNR staff. Provided that the grantee is in compliance with all terms of the Request for Application and grant contracts, verified project activities and eligible expenses will be reimbursed up to 90%, with 10% retained until the project is completed.
Accommodations may be offered in select circumstances, and in accordance with Office of Grants Management policies, at the discretion of the agency. Please reach out to DNR staff at [email protected] for more information on requesting accommodations.

Priority Area

Can DNR provide shapefiles so we can determine priority areas?

Yes, please email [email protected] to request the shapefile.

Why are the High Supplemental Demographic Index (SDI) census tracts in Met Councils map for Community Tree Planting Grants different from the census tracts identified under the DNR’s UCF Priority Area Map?

The Environmental Justice Screening Tool allowed for users to define supplemental demographic index scores for census tracts based either on the United States as a whole or just within the state. Met Council used the “compare to state” metric whereas DNR used the “compare to US” metric when creating these maps. The “compare to US” was the standard comparison metric within the Environmental Justice Screening Tool and was utilized by DNR to follow the prioritization metrics outlined in legislative language. The DNR has now updated the map to include parcels who meet the 70th percentile threshold based on the “compare to state data”. All census tracts that were previously marked as priority remain in the priority layer, and new tracts have been added based on the clarified data metric. To accommodate for this clarification, we will extend grant application deadline to October 27, 2025.

How are priority points defined?

Priority points are assigned based on the actual amount of work done within a priority area. Please check that your mapped work locations are actually within priority areas prior to filling out the application priority points tables. We will be checking the mapped locations and descriptions against the priority areas map to ensure what you have noted on your application form is in alignment with what is in your mapped work location submissions.

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.

Prioritization

How do we note removal and replacements at a level higher that 1:1? Would a planting ratio of 1:1.5 mean we make our total number of ash removed and replaced at 1.5?

You would count all removals and replacements as 1 each and then additional replacements would go in the planting section of the prioritization rubric. For example, if you remove 30 trees and are replanting 45 at a 1:1.5 ratio you would say “30 removals and replacements” and “15 additional plantings” in the appropriate columns.