NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM AWARDED $10 MILLION COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT FROM USDA
In October, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) was awarded a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to strengthen Nebraska’s urban forest infrastructure in disadvantaged communities across Nebraska. NSA will do this through tree planting, tree maintenance and removal and workforce development in both urban and rural areas of the state.
The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum will serve as a “pass-through” administrator of the $10 million grant by creating competitive sub-award programs under its current granting structure to accomplish the objectives over the five-year grant period. One hundred percent of the urban forest infrastructure work that will take place with the IRA grant funds will align with the Justice40 initiative, which aims to bring resources to disadvantaged communities most impacted by climate change, pollution, and environmental hazards.
Programs will include tree removal, including ash trees infected with emerald ash borer, in both private and public landscapes; tree plantings to mitigate urban heat island effect in communities that qualify for grant funding; and the implementation of workforce training programs to increase the number of certified arborists and other tree care professionals in the state.
““We are absolutely thrilled to be awarded this significant grant, which will profoundly impact the health, safety and well-being of thousands of Nebraskans in communities across the state. This investment will not only help to create greener cities and towns, it will also expand access to green space in previously underserved communities and create more jobs in the tree care industry, which will in turn deliver tangible economic benefits to Nebraskans for years to come.””
““Community forests benefit all Nebraskans by protecting our homes, cleaning air and water and mitigating heat islandsin urban settings. This level of investment will be transformative for Nebraska’s communities and all of us who live in the community forest.” ”
For more information about the grant and eligibility requirements, visit plantnebraska.org/ucf-grants.