DNR announces $1 million in grants to help 15 Michigan communities improve their tree canopies

Projects such as tree planting and tree canopy plans in Cadillac and East Lansing and planting food forests in Muskegon are among those sharing more than $1 million in grant funding. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grants, or UCF IRA grants, recently were awarded to Michigan communities and organizations.

This grant program is made possible through funding provided by the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Trees play an essential role in improving the quality of life for Michigan residents. They improve air quality, lower summer temperatures, can reduce energy costs and help manage the flow of stormwater. Trees enhance people’s mental and physical well-being and create healthier and more resilient communities.

"Trees are vital community infrastructure, and this grant program supports projects that bring the important benefits trees provide to more Michigan communities," said Kerry Gray, Urban and Community Forestry program grant specialist.

The grants, awarded to 15 communities around the state, will collectively plant and care for more than 1,700 trees, train 500 city staff, students and residents through 33 workshops and events, and create inventories and develop plans to sustainably manage more than 32,000 public trees benefiting more than 285,000 Michigan residents.

Funding a variety of projects

These projects received funding:

• City of Battle Creek (Calhoun County): $38,850 to conduct public tree planting, maintenance and community engagement and outreach. 
• City of Cadillac (Wexford County): $100,000 for tree planting and maintenance to support a sustainable urban forest. 
• Crystal Township (Montcalm County): $133,112 to complete a public tree inventory and management plan to guide project tree planting and maintenance activities; conduct tree planting and develop a community orchard. 
• City of East Lansing (Ingham County): $50,000 to develop a tree canopy plan to improve and enhance the city’s downtown area. 
• Eight Mile Boulevard Association, Inc. (Wayne County): $24,250 to conduct a public tree inventory for the 8 Mile Corridor from Grand River Avenue to I-94 and to develop a tree-planting plan. 
• Grand Valley Metro Council (Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds, Kent County): $36,993 to develop and conduct a series of tree-planting and care workshops for municipal employees, residents and landscape contractors within the Lower Grand River Watershed. 
• City of Ionia (Ionia County): $30,000 for street tree planting in neighborhoods with low tree canopy cover. 
• Village of Lakeview (Montcalm County): $95,172 for tree planting in parks and along streets throughout the village. 
• Lincoln Township (Clare County): $34,200 for community tree planting and maintenance. 
• City of Madison Heights (Oakland County): $119,350 to complete a public tree inventory and management plan to guide project tree planting and maintenance activities; and plant new street trees. 
• Marquette County: $100,985 to develop a community food forest and engage the community and youth in its installation and care. 
• City of Mt. Pleasant (Isabella County): $100,000 for public tree planting and maintenance activities to support a sustainable urban forest. 
• Muskegon Conservation District (Muskegon County): $23,438 to create food forests in the city of Muskegon and engage with community members in its planting and care. 
• City of Oak Park (Oakland County): $117,621 to complete a public tree inventory, develop an urban forest management plan, plant street trees and conduct community engagement and outreach. 
• City of Ypsilanti (Washtenaw County): $143,703 to complete a public tree inventory, develop an urban forest management plan, plant street trees and train staff and volunteers. 

The Michigan DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program is a federally funded program providing technical, educational and grant assistance to communities, nonprofits, educational institutions and tribes to build capacity for managing trees and forests in communities throughout the state.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and USDA Forest Service are equal opportunity providers.