The Department of Natural Resources today announced the award of 50 grants totaling $214,665 for community forestry projects statewide.
A list of this year's award recipients is attached.

This competitive grant program, a cooperative effort between the DNR, and the USDA Forest Service, funds projects that help create and sustain local urban and community forestry programs. Grants are awarded for tree planting, community tree inventories, management plans and education/training projects which enhance and promote urban forestry in Michigan.

"These grants will provide important support to help maintain our urban forests and enhance the livability of our communities," said Kevin Sayers, DNR urban forester.

The grants are federally funded through the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program. Cost-share funds are available to local units of government, schools and nonprofit entities. Grants require dollar-for-dollar matching funds toward projects performed on non-federal, public lands or lands open to the public.

Grant awards will be distributed this month for projects scheduled for completion by September 2009.

For more information, contact Kevin Sayers, DNR Urban and Community Forestry coordinator, at (517) 241-4632, or visit http://www.mi.gov/dnrucf.