Caring for Canopy Grants

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 are focused 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. 

The 2019 Grant Round has closed.

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

Grant Overview 

Questions

For more information or assistance, contact the VT UCF staff listed below.

Helpful Resources

PLANT. LIVE. GROW.