We offer annual grants to support the development of sustainable urban and community forestry programs at the local level. This funding should be considered seed money to help communities care for tree canopy and foster tree stewardship by taking the necessary actions to develop and sustain a community‐wide tree program. These grants allow for multiple program components (e.g., tree planting, tree inventory, tree maintenance, plan development, public outreach, and program development) to be merged into one grant application for ease and flexibility.
Our 2019 grants will focus on emerald ash borer (EAB) municipal planning.
If you have questions, let us know
Emerald Ash Borer Municipal Planning Grants
These grants will support efforts to prepare for and manage the impacts of emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB is a destructive and invasive forest pest that feeds on all species of ash trees, killing over 99% within four years of infestation. The state's forested land is made up of about 5% ash, yet up to 50% of downtown trees in Vermont are ash. All said, Vermont is home to an estimated 160 million ash trees. EAB is now confirmed in Orange, Washington, Caledonia, Grand Isle, and Bennington Counties. Communities statewide are encouraged to prepare to manage the decline of ash trees and the future of an urban tree canopy without ash.
Grant applications are due January 31, 2019
Available Funds
$40,000 in cost-share grants are available for 2019. The maximum funding for proposals for individual municipalities is $2,000. Municipalities that are collaborating on a project may submit one proposal together; the maximum amount per municipality is $2,000. These funds will be distributed through a competitive grant review and selection process.
Eligible Project Components
Projects must relate to municipal EAB planning and take place in Vermont and may consist of one or more of the following program components:
- Ash tree inventories;
- Plan development;
- Public outreach & program development;
- Monitoring or surveying efforts for EAB;
- Ash tree assessments; and/or
- Replanting and restoration.
These grants support planning and management but do not include tree removal or chemical treatment.
Grant Documents
The application is in PDF, if you need a different format, let us know.
Questions
For more information or assistance, contact the VT UCF staff listed below.
- Grant Application Questions: Danielle Fitzko, (802) 598-9992 or danielle.fitzko@vermont.gov
- Project Development Questions: Elise Schadler, (802) 522-6015 or elise.schadler@vermont.gov
- Grant Submission Questions: Jenny Lauer, Administrative Assistant, (802) 828-1531 or jenny.lauer@vermont.gov
Helpful Resources
- Learn about & look up your D-U-N-S number
- Emerald Ash Borer Management
- Emerald Ash Borer in Vermont
- Vermont Tree Selection Guide
- Vermont Tree Selection Tool
- Cornell: Recommended Urban Trees
- Right Tree Right Place
- Planning to Purchase a Tree: Tree Planting and Establishment
- Protecting Your Investment
- Pruning Young Trees
- Pruning Mature Trees
- Trees and Stormwater
- Main Streets to Green Streets