2025 Community Tree Planting Grants

a young girls helps plant a new tree

Grant overview

The Minnesota Legislature allocated more than $4 million for Community Tree Planting Grants to support tree planting in communities. The maximum grant request is $500,000, and no match is required.

Eligible applicants:

All cities, counties, and townships, as well as park and recreation boards in cities of the first class, are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to projects removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns and projects in areas identified by the legislature as Priority Areas.

Eligible activities:

  • Removing and replanting of shade trees on public or Tribal lands for environmental benefits
  • Replacing trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storms on public or residential land
  • Establishing a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests on public or residential land

Any tree planted with this grant must be a climate-adapted species to Minnesota.

Project timeline:

  • Application Available: August 13, 2025
  • Application Questions due: September 30, 2025
  • Applications Due: October 13, 2025
  • Project Selection, Grant Agreement Negotiations: November 5, 2025-December 23, 2025
  • Work Plans Approved, Contracts Executed, Grant Work Begins: March 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 supplemental demographic index geographic locations. 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. Letter(s) of support, if collaborating with an outside organization (any format acceptable)
  8. 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.
  9. 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 to [email protected].

Priority area

Consistent with legislative direction, priority for Community Tree Planting Grant awards will be given to:

(1) projects removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns; and

2) projects located in a census block group with a supplemental demographic index score in the 70th percentile or higher as identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice (EJ) Screening and Mapping Tool methodology. This methodology can be found in the United States EPA’s EJ Screen technical documentation dated July 31, 2024. Please click here to view the Priority Area map.

Informational sessions

In-person and webinar options

Please join us on 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. 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 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Marshally-Lyon County Library, Minnesota Room, 201 C Street, Marshall, MN 56258
  • September 4 from 10:00 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 3:00 p.m. at Nokomis Public Library, Nokomis Meeting Room, 5100 34th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55417
  • September 10 from 10:00 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 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th S. Moorhead, MN 56560
  • September 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Morris Public Library 102 E. 6th St., Morris, MN 56267

How to apply: After reading through the Request for Applications, complete all parts of the application and additional documentation as applicable. Email completed application to [email protected] (only emailed applications will be accepted). Applications must be received by October 13 to be considered eligible for funding.

FAQs:

FAQs will be updated weekly with questions received through September 30. Direct questions to [email protected]. Similar FAQs can be found here.

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