The Chesapeake Bay Trust, in cooperation with the TreeBaltimore, the USDA Forest Service, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service Division, is proud to announce the 2009 Urban Greening Grant Program.

The program is designed to help Maryland communities implement “greening” plans that increase forest canopy, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and enhance the quality of life in urban areas.

The program will award grants to local governments, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood associations for on-the-ground restoration and other activities that support the implementation of an adopted plan to green communities in Maryland.

The program seeks two types of applicants:

Tree Canopy Plan Track: Maximum Request $35,000 - Those who are in the process of developing or who have developed a comprehensive urban greening program in conjunction with a local government. This program would include an urban tree canopy assessment and/or tree survey. 

Neighborhood Greening Track: Maximum Request $15,000 - Neighborhoods and communities who have prioritized tree canopy enhancement as a goal.

The overall goal of the Urban Greening Grant Program is to increase the percentage of tree canopy in urban areas with an emphasis on encouraging communities to integrate trees and natural areas into stormwater management strategies and to connect green spaces in order to maximize community and environmental benefits.