The South Carolina Forestry Commission, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, is pleased to announce that funds are available through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the Community Forest Health Enrichment Assistance Program. Approximately $850,000 is available to South Carolina’s city and town governments. The money will be awarded through a competitive grants process statewide. Projects which help communities with the management of their public tree resource will be considered for funding.
Unlike other SCFC Urban Forestry grants for which county and state governments and non-profits routinely apply, through this program only cities and towns are eligible.
“We are very excited to provide this unique type of funding to South Carolina communities,” said Liz Gilland, Community Forestry Program Coordinator. “Not only will these funds help with green industry job stimulus, they’ll improve the health and safety of our cities and towns and establish the next generation of trees in our communities.”
Awards under this grant will provide funding for:
· Hazard tree removals along public rights-of-way and parks
· Individual hazard tree assessments on public rights-of-way
· Public tree replacement plantings along public rights-of-way
Forestry Commission personnel anticipate the grants to range from $10,000 to $35,000 in value. Applications will be reviewed by Forestry Commission foresters, representatives from non-profit organizations, the SC Department of Transportation, and representatives from state utility companies. For each applicant, this committee will consider location, local unemployment rates, population, and need with an aim of spreading the funds geographically across the state.
The grant proposal deadline is Dec. 18. Individuals authorized by their city or town government to apply may visit www.trees.sc.gov for more information.
Additionally, the South Carolina Forestry Commission will hold two free grant writing workshops in Columbia at 2 p.m. Nov. 24 and Dec. 3. To register, call (803) 896-8846 or (803) 896-8864.
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