Urban Forestry Grant Programs

Topics:

Forestry
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Trees for Kids Grant

Iowa DNR funds to plant trees in public areas of communities (park, community center, public school, etc.) are available for this fall. Trees for Kids grants provides reimbursable grants to buy trees and mulch to help increase and diversify tree canopy.

A total of $50,000 in funds are available. Grant funding is competitive, non-match, and awarded in amounts of up to $2,500 per project.

An approved tree species list is in the Nursery notification letter below. Youth are required to be engaged in the process, most often helping to plant the trees on site.

Applications will be available mid-May 2025.

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Community Forestry Grant Program

The Iowa Legislature appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) to be used for a community-based tree planting program for derecho recovery tree planting.

The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants to be used to purchase and plant trees suitable to Iowa. Award recipients in counties impacted by the August 10, 2020 derecho will be awarded state infrastructure funds in reimbursable funds. An approximate total of $146,500 in funds are available. Award recipients will be reimbursed $500 to $10,000 to buy trees and materials.

The Community Forestry Grant is available to state and local governments entities, schools and volunteer organizations, and service organizations involved with local urban and community forest services, to plant trees on publicly owned lands owned by state, county, or local governments and located within the State of Iowa (DNR lands are not eligible). Qualifying public planting lands include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and trails.
 

Derecho CFGP Final Report Spring and Fall 2024

Spring 2025 Award Recipients 

A total of $229,791.76 was awarded to 28 projects. Award recipients include:

  • City of Ames
  • City of Ankeny
  • City of Bondurant
  • City of Cedar Rapids
  • City of Center Point
  • City of Coralville
  • City of Earlham
  • City of Granger Woodward Soccer Club
  • City of Iowa City
  • City of Johnston
  • City of Kalona
  • City of Maquoketa
  • City of Marion
  • City of Marshalltown
  • City of Maxwell
  • City of Monticello
  • City of Muscatine
  • City of Nevada
  • City of Pleasant Hill
  • City of Solon
  • City of Story City
  • City of Tipton
  • City of Urbandale
  • City of Waukee
  • City of West Des Moines
  • Gutekunst Public Library
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IRA Trees for Schools Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inlation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds for schools to plant trees.

Spring 2025 Award Recipients 
A total of $108,226.06 was awarded to 29 projects. Award recipients include:

  • ADM Middle School
  • Aldrich Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Colfax-Mingo Jr./Sr. High School
  • Denver Secondary School
  • Dike-New Hartford Community Schools
  • Essex Community School
  • Farley Elementary
  • Highland Elementary
  • Humboldt Community School District
  • IKM-Manning CSD
  • Irving Elementary
  • Keokuk CSD
  • Logan Magnolia High School
  • Lincoln Elementary
  • Maple Grove Elementary
  • Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community Schools
  • MOC Floyd Valley High School
  • Nodaway Valley Elementary
  • North Iowa Christian School
  • Osage CSD
  • Postville CSD
  • Shell Rock Elementary
  • Sioux Center CSD
  • South Central Calhoun CSD
  • Southeast Polk CSD
  • Starmont CSD
  • West Central Valley High School
  • Willowwind School

 

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IRA Iowa Tree Planting Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds to plant trees in public spaces.

Applications for a second round of funding will be available in 2026.

Spring 2025 Award Recipients
A total of $924,251 was awarded to 39 projects. Award recipients include:

  • Armstrong City Council, City of Armstrong
  • Audubon County
  • Build a Better Belmond-Upscale the Trail
  • Carroll Parks and Recreation Department
  • Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens
  • Central School Preservation
  • City of Afton
  • City of Ames
  • City of Burlington
  • City of Carter Lake
  • City of Cedar Falls
  • City of Creston
  • City of Denison
  • City of Des Moines Forestry
  • City of Granville
  • City of Grimes Public Works
  • City of Humboldt
  • City of Iowa City
  • City of Manly
  • City of Marion - Tree Board
  • City of Oelwein
  • City of Ottumwa Parks and Recreation
  • City of Preston
  • City of Randall, Iowa
  • City of Sioux City
  • City of Spencer
  • City of West Des Moines
  • Clinton Trees Forever
  • Council Bluffs Trees Forever
  • Crawford County Conservation Board
  • Friends of the Hampton Tree Board
  • Garner Chamber of Commerce
  • Grand Junction/Grand Junction Lions Club
  • Hancock County Conservation
  • Jefferson Tree Committee
  • Johnson County
  • Linn County
  • Sioux County Agriculture and Exposition Center/Sioux County
  • Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

 

 

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