Community Forestry Grants
The Community Forestry program offers several grant opportunities for communities. Grant applications are accepted March 3 through April 17, 2025. All communities interested in obtaining an application must contact NDFS Community Forestry Staff.
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Overview of the Community Forestry Grant Program
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Timeline for Community Forestry Grants
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FAQ for the Community Forestry Grant Program
Community Family Forest (CFF)
| What: Planting trees in ND communities and strengthening the tradition of annual tree planting. | Who: Public entities; only one grant application will be accepted per community. | Project Ideas: Arbor Day tree planting, pocket park in downtown, small tree planting to encourage community involvement | Amount: 80/20 match with a maximum $1,500; Tree City USA communities are eligible for a maximum award of $2,000. Funded by the Trees for North Dakota Trust Fund. | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
America the Beautiful Tree Planting (ATB TP)
| What: Tree planting projects that increase the diversity of trees in the community. | Who: Public entities; multiple entities within the same community can apply for this grant. | Project Ideas: Small-large scale planting project, replant trees where mature trees have been removed, start a community orchard | Amount: 50:50 match with a maximum grant award of $10,000. Co-sponsored by the US Forest Service. | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
America the Beautiful Program Development (ATB PD)
| What: Community forestry projects other than tree planting. | Who: Public entities; multiple entities within the same community can apply for this grant. | Projects Ideas: Removal of ash trees as part of an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Community Forestry Action Plan, develop a Community Forestry Action Plan, removal of trees with Dutch elm disease or identified as high risk, inventory of publicly-owned trees, pruning for structure and clearance, educational outreach, attend a workshop, job shadow an arborist | Amount: 50:50 match with a maximum grant award of $10,000. Co-sponsored by the US Forest Service. | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
| What: Community forestry projects in rural communities with a population of 2,500 or less | Who: Public entities; multiple entities within the same community can apply for this grant. | Projects Ideas: Removal of ash trees as part of an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Community Forestry Action Plan, removal of: declining ash trees, Dutch elm disease or identified as high risk, increase diversity by planting | Amount: No match with a maximum grant award of $10,000 and is made available through the US Forest Service | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
Tree Equity Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Does your community or neighborhood qualify? Visit our new map to see if our Tree Equity grants are available to your community!
Tree Planting
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What: Intended to promote tree plantings with a diversity of large shade, ornamental, and fruit trees that benefit disadvantaged communities. | Who: Public entities who qualify using Tree Equity Score, Climate and Justice Economic Screening Tool, and criteria for Medically Underserved and Low Income in North Dakota; multiple entities within the same community can apply for each category of this grant. | Project Ideas: tree plantings along city rights-of-way, park plantings around gathering spaces, community orchard | Amount: No match with a maximum of $25,000 made available through the US Forest Service | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
Planning & Program Development
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What: Intended to stimulate the development of innovative and effective community forestry projects that benefit disadvantaged communities. | Who: Public entities who qualify using Tree Equity Score, Climate and Justice Economic Screening Tool, and criteria for Medically Underserved and Low Income in North Dakota; multiple entities within the same community can apply for each category of this grant. | Project Ideas: Tree inventory, develop an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Community Forestry Action Plan, hire a consultant to help develop a master planting plan, tree ID markers, educational outreach | Amount: No match with a maximum of $25,000 made available through the US Forest Service | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
Tree Maintenance & Removal
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What: Intended to promote forest resilience and public safety through tree care and removals that benefit disadvantaged communities. | Who: Public entities who qualify using Tree Equity Score, Climate and Justice Economic Screening Tool, and criteria for Medically Underserved and Low Income in North Dakota; multiple entities within the same community can apply for each category of this grant. | Project Ideas: Public rights-of-way removal of trees identified as diseased or high risk, pruning for structure and clearance, help cover the cost for watering newly planted trees | Amount: No match with a maximum of $25,000 made available through the US Forest Service | Deadline: April 17, 2025 |
Workforce Training & Development
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What: Intended to improve equitable access to forestry and arborist skills that will benefit disadvantaged communities. | Who: Public entities who qualify using Tree Equity Score, Climate and Justice Economic Screening Tool, and criteria for Medically Underserved and Low Income in North Dakota; multiple entities within the same community can apply for each category of this grant. | Project Ideas: Attend ISA workshops, hire seasonal arborist assistant, job shadow a city arborist in another community | Amount: No match with a maximum of $25,000 made available through the US Forest Service | Deadline: Available year round |
Storm Damage Response & Recovery
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What: Intended to assist vulnerable communities in recovery from extreme weather events. | Who: Public entities who qualify using Tree Equity Score, Climate and Justice Economic Screening Tool, and criteria for Medically Underserved and Low Income in North Dakota; multiple entities within the same community can apply for each category of this grant. | Project Ideas: Pruning and removal/replacement of damaged trees following a storm event | Amount: No match with a maximum of $25,000 made available through the US Forest Service | Deadline: Available year round as storm events occur |
Summary of Tree Equity Grant Opportunities
Tree Equity IRA Grant Overview
Scoring Guidelines
Additional Resources
North Dakota Forestry & Arboriculture Consultants
Example Tree Planting Grant Application
Example Program Development Grant Application
