USDA 2013 Urban And Community Forestry Grant – $900,000 Available: Deadline Dec 3rd

The Council serves to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the status of the nation’s urban and
community forests and related natural resources. The Council seeks to establish sustainable urban and community forests, by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources, which can, if well managed, improve the public’s health, well-being, and economic vitality, and create resilient ecosystems for present and future generations.

Urban and Community Forestry Program Requirements:

The Council supports urban and community forestry projects that have national or multi-state
application and impact through the U.S. Forest Service’s competitive Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program. A proposal’s content must meet the Urban and Community Forestry program authorities as designated by Congress in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, and the annual criteria set forth by the Council. A listing of the previously funded projects can be viewed at www.urbanforestrysouth.org/research/nucfac

DEFINITIONS:

Urban and Community Forestry: The art, science, and technology of managing trees, forests, and
natural systems on public lands in and around cities, suburbs, and towns for the health and well-being of
all people.

Underserved Communities: Communities that do not receive equitable resources as other communities in maximizing the benefits from the conservation and management of their natural resources. In this context we consider underserved as low income, under represented racial / ethnic minorities; Native Americans; people with disabilities and the elderly.

Nontraditional: Organizations, agencies, businesses not traditionally involved in urban and community forestry.

GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Available Funding:

The U.S. Forest Service anticipates that the statutory authority for the Fiscal Year 2013 Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program will provide, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (Section 9), approximately $900,000 in grant funds to be awarded through the 2013 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program. Funds are to support urban and community forestry projects on nonfederal public land that have a national or widespread impact and application. All awards are based on the availability of funding, which may be subject to change.

Eligible Applicants:

Any U.S. non-Federal organization, operating within the United States or its territories, may apply for the Challenge Cost-Share grant. While collaboration with Federal agencies is encouraged, a Federal agency may not receive funding or be used as match to the Federal funds being
requested. (Conflict of interest issues will be addressed appropriately.) Individuals, commercial
businesses or private land are not eligible.

Note: Local tree-planting projects, capital improvements to property of any ownership, and/or projects that have only a local impact and applicability will not be considered for funding. Urban and community forestry projects with a local scope of work should contact their State Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator for assistance in identifying funding alternatives at the local level. The list of State Coordinators may be found at the following website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/Related_Links/UCF_State_coordinators.htm

Matching Requirements:

All grant funds must be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non- Federal source funds. This match may include in-kind donations, volunteer assistance, and private and public (non-federal) monetary contributions. All matching funds must be specifically related to the
proposed project. The source of matching funds must be identified and grantees must comply with all applicable Federal regulations.

Award and Reporting:

Within one year of the award, selected grantees will be required to submit a written report on outcomes, including activities undertaken to disseminate/extend their work to others. Grantees will be asked to present, in person/webcast, their project progress report at one of the Councils’ next annual meetings and annually thereafter until the grant is completed. This knowledge will be useful to the Council in designating future innovation grant priorities and processes.

Written progress reports are to be submitted bi-annually to their respective Forest Service Urban
Forestry Program Manager for verification and approval. The financial reports (SF425) are to be
submitted quarterly to the designated Forest Service financial office. Towards the end of the grant
period, awardees can expect a small percentage of the awarded funds to be withheld, based on the
amount of work to be completed. Upon completion and approval of final reports and obligations, the final amount will be released. Forms and Instructions for completing the SF425 may be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms/ .

Inquiries: All questions regarding the program should be directed to Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff to the Council, at (202) 205-7829 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern).

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