Community forestry
Empower your community with a thriving tree canopy through the urban community forestry grants. For more information or to review past grant recipients, visit our community forestry grants page.
- Upcoming and open applications - grants will open in 2025.
- Ongoing funding, no longer accepting applications:
- Growing Tomorrow’s Tree Care Professionals Grants: $2.3 million will be available starting August 22, 2024 until October 8, 2024. This grant focuses on recruiting, training, and retaining individuals in environmental justice areas to help bolster urban forestry careers.
- Centering Communities in Canopy Solutions Grants: $1 million will be available starting September 9, 2024 until October 28, 2024. This grant supports community-driven projects that increase tree canopy equity in environmental justice areas.
- 2023 Preparing for EAB grants program - grant funding two-year projects for local government units within Minnesota to assist communities in managing ash for emerald ash borer (EAB) on public land. Accepting applications through February 27, 2023.
- Protect Community Forests by Managing Ash for EAB Grants program - grant for managing ash for emerald ash borer (EAB) on public land, and improve community forests by involving community members and planting diverse trees. This opportunity has closed.
- 2022 Preparing for EAB grants program - grant funding two-year projects for local; government units within Minnesota to assist communities in managing ash for emerald ash borer (EAB) on public land. This opportunity has closed.
- Shade tree program bonding grants, 2021-2024 - Local units of government across Minnesota are invited to apply for this grant for removal and (re)planting of shade trees on public land, with priority given to projects: with a known emerald ash borer infestation, removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns, or benefiting underserved populations and areas of concern for environmental justice. This opportunity has closed.
- ReLeaf Community Forestry grants, 2023-2027 - grants for local units of government, non-profit organizations, and schools within Minnesota that will encourage and promote the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources to enhance community forest health and sustainability, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and promote energy conservation.
- Shade tree program bonding grants, 2023-2027 - grants for local units of government within Minnesota that use strategic actions to replace trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm; or to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests.
Fire protection programs
- Community Wildfire Defense Grants - offer communities, tribes, states, and non-profits the opportunity to create or update a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or 2) Complete project work outlined in a current CWPP.
- Firewise Community Grants - provide funds to help communities create Community Wildfire Protection Plans and Mitigate wildfire risk.
- Volunteer Fire Assistance Matching Grant Program - provide financial ($1,000-$5,000) and technical assistance to Minnesota fire departments in cities or communities with a population under 10,000.
- Wildland Equipment for Rural Fire Departments Program - provides wildland fire suppression equipment to Minnesota fire departments at a low cost.
Reforestation
Tree seedling drought relief grants program - grants for counties and tribal governments within Minnesota that manage forests and are in need of financial assistance to replant young forest stands damaged by the 2021 drought.