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
- There are currently no open applications.
- Ongoing funding, no longer accepting applications
2025 Community Tree Planting Grants – $4 million in grants for local units of government in Minnesota 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.
2025 ReLeaf Grants - $7 million in grants for local units of government and nonprofits in Minnesota. Eligible projects include inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, treatment, improvement, protection, wood utilization, and restoration of trees and forest resources. These efforts support a wide range of community forest programming and activities.
- 2024 Growing Tomorrow’s Tree Care Professionals Grants - $2.3 million in grants focused on recruiting, training, and retaining individuals in environmental justice areas to help bolster urban forestry careers.
- 2024 Centering Communities in Canopy Solutions Grants - $1 million in grants to support community-driven projects increasing tree canopy equity in environmental justice areas.
- 2023 Preparing for EAB grants program - $315,000 in grants for two-year projects for local government units within Minnesota to assist communities in managing ash for emerald ash borer (EAB) on public land.
- Protect Community Forests by Managing Ash for EAB Grants program - $2.4 million in grants to manage ash for emerald ash borer (EAB) on public land, and improve community forests by involving community members and planting diverse trees.
- 2022 Preparing for EAB grants program - Grants for two-year projects for local government units within Minnesota to assist communities in managing ash for emerald ash borer (EAB) on public land.
- Shade tree program bonding grants, 2021-2024 - Grant for local units of government across Minnesota to remove and (re)plant shade trees on public land, with priority given to projects with a known emerald ash borer infestation, to remove and replace ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns, or benefit underserved populations and areas of concern for environmental justice.
- ReLeaf Community Forestry grants, 2023-2027 - Grants for local units of government, non-profit organizations, and schools within Minnesota to 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.