Purpose:
To help create sustainable urban forests across the state, $30.8 million in funding will be available to support urban and community forestry projects in historically disinvested urban communities throughout California.
Description:
The Inflation Reduction Act supports urban and community forestry investments that foster:
1) Increased and equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities.
2) Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning, tree planting, and management activities.
3) Improved community and urban forest resilience to climate change, extreme heat, forest pests and diseases, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices.
There are six grant options available: Urban Forest Expansion and Improvement, Urban Forest Management Activities, Urban Forestry Education and Workforce Development, Urban Forestry Regional or Statewide Impact, Urban Forest Equity Capacity Building, and Green Schoolyards.
Projects must directly serve priority populations within one or more defined disadvantaged and/or low-income community in an urban area. In California, CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is administering this federal grant funding.
Local government entities: cities, counties, or qualifying districts. For Green Schoolyards: school districts and community college districts.Federally Recognized Tribes: 25 USC 5304 (l), operating within California.Tribal-affiliated non-profit organizations: Section 501c(3) of the IRC.Non-profit organizations: Section 501c(3) of the IRC. For Green Schoolyards, includes non-profit childcare facilities receiving government funding.