Resilient Urban Forests For All

Technical and Financial Assistance Package to Help Grow Downtown Trees

The Village of Lyndonville and the Town of Windsor are partnered with the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program (VT UCF) during the 2022-2023 calendar years to invigorate their urban forestry programs, support their municipal staff and volunteers, and strengthen their technical expertise needed to promote healthy urban and community tree canopy.

Funding for this initiative was provided by the USDA Forest Service through the 2021 State Urban Forest Resilience grant program.  

Our partner municipalities receive a package valued at over $20,000 that includes:

  • A $10,000 grant for strategic tree planting and/or maintenance of existing trees.
  • A minimum of 50 hours of direct assistance from VT UCF’s Technical Assistance Coordinator for assessment of needs, plan and program development, and site and tree selection and sourcing, including a minimum of 3 site visits.
  • A minimum of 20 hours of VT UCF staff or intern time spent updating an existing tree inventory or conducting an initial inventory of publicly managed trees. 
  • Tree care supplies and resources, such as irrigation or watering bags, pruners, pole pruners, or printed guides, totaling $500 in value.
  • 1 basic tree care training for municipal staff.
  • 100 free trees for private property owners through the 2022 Vermont Community Canopy program, run in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. 
  • A Vermont Tree Stewards training for local youth groups, educators, or volunteers willing to engage with the municipality’s urban forestry program in a capacity that best suits the broader community.

Our municipal partners commit to:

  • Providing at least $2,500 in-kind staff time or cash match.
  • Assigning a municipal staff point of contact or the town-appointed tree warden who will participate in a minimum of 3 in-person planning meetings.
  • Assisting VT UCF staff in coordinating the local Community Canopy tree giveaway program, basic tree care training, and volunteer training and workday.
  • Taking intentional steps towards meeting the required standards of the Tree City USA designation program, as a benchmark for a sustainable urban forestry program. The four standards of Tree City USA designation are:
    • development of a tree board or department
    • drafting and accepting a tree care ordinance or policy
    • an urban forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita
    • an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.