The Trust's Urban Greening Initiative grant program is designed to aid communities in implementing "greening" plans that increase tree canopy, reduce storm water runoff, and improve air quality in urban areas. This program awards grants of up to $50,000 to local governments and/or non-profit organizations working in cooperation with local governments for on-the ground restoration activities that support the implementation of an adopted plan to green communities in Maryland.
Eligible applicants will have completed, or are seeking to complete some level of tree canopy/greening assessment; set or are in the process of setting a goal to increase tree canopy or greening and developed, or are developing an implementation plan to advance the goal. Total funding available through the program is $300,000.
The overall goal of the Urban Greening Initiative Grant Program is to increase the percentage of tree canopy and expand green cover in urban areas with an emphasis on encouraging communities to integrate trees and natural areas into storm water management strategies and to connect green spaces in order to maximize community and environmental benefits.
The 2007 Urban Greening gran program RFP is now available. Hard copy applications will be due by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 13 and decisions will be announced in late September.
The 2007 Urban Greening RFP was announced at the third and final workshop, "Making your Community Forest Friendly" sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Center for Watershed Protection. It was held May 30 from 12:30 pm-4:30pm at the Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitor's Center. The workshop focused on updating local codes and ordinances to be more forest friendly, case studies from local governments, including the City of Cumberland, forest friendly development practices, a field exercise on methods to evaluate forest conditions and more. Visit our Urban Greening Technical Assistance page for more details. With questions, please contact Christine Dunham at 410.974.2941, Ext. 106.
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