The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry has recently announced the allocation of nearly $5.5 million in grants for 36 urban forestry initiatives throughout Ohio, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban Forestry Grant Program.
Dan Balser, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry, expressed his satisfaction with the distribution of these grants, emphasizing their significance in supporting local urban forestry programs. “These programs play a vital role in their communities, and the grants we provide help bring trees and their life-sustaining benefits to urban areas across the state,” Balser stated.
Two grant programs were made available to nonprofit organizations in Ohio, focusing on the development of both emerging and established urban forestry programs. The primary objective of these grants is to expand tree canopy coverage, particularly in underserved communities.
Grants awarded through the program can be utilized for various purposes, including program development such as staffing, urban forestry planning, training programs, risk mitigation, and tree planting and establishment. Emerging urban forestry programs were eligible for grants of up to $50,000, while established programs could receive grants of up to $1 million.
Carrie Morrow, Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager with the Division of Forestry, highlighted the financial challenges faced by many urban forestry programs in Ohio. She emphasized that the grant program serves as a crucial supplement to their budgets, facilitating the growth and development of community forests that benefit all Ohioans.
The IRA grant funds provided to ODNR Forestry originate from the USDA Forest Service. This cycle of grants represents a portion of the $9 million allocated to Ohio for forestry from the IRA, marking the largest pass-through grant ever administered by the Division of Forestry.
