Tree planting, education about the benefits of trees and other tree-centric efforts are on tap in nine Michigan communities thanks to Community Forestry Grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Those communities will share $127,093 in grant funding.

The DNR received a total of 24 proposals requesting nearly $393,000 this year.

The approved projects will collectively plant and care for 260 new trees; engage and train an estimated 200 students, residents and city staff; inventory and develop plans to sustainably manage more than 14,500 public trees; and leverage more than $157,500 in community and volunteer matching.

• Village of Cass City: $10,000 to complete a public tree inventory and tree management plan.
• City of Chelsea: $5,768 to complete an urban tree canopy assessment and tree preservation plan.
• Eaton Conservation District: $26,205 for tree planting, youth and volunteer engagement, and education and outreach efforts at the Charlotte Forest Garden.
• City of Hastings: $12,500 to complete a public tree inventory and develop a maintenance plan to guide the city's public tree care program.
• City of Laingsburg: $14,365 to plant and care for new trees at McClintock Park.
• Sparta Township: $9,102 to plant and care for 41 new trees at several township parks.
• City of Swartz Creek: $9,890 to plant and care for 38 new trees at Abrams Park.
• City of Trenton: $27,013 to complete a public tree inventory and develop a maintenance plan to guide the city's public tree care program.
• City of Williamston: $12,250 to complete a public tree inventory, develop a maintenance plan and plant trees to expand the city’s tree nursery.

Community Forestry Grants are made available through federal funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program. They are administered by the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program. Learn more about the DNR’s program at Michigan.gov/UCF.

Contact: Kerry Gray, 734-691-1806