OHIO – Grants totaling almost $5.5 million are being distributed to urban forestry projects throughout the state through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, according to an ODNR press release.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry is distributing nearly $5.5 million in grants for urban forestry projets throughout the state

  • The money is being distributed across 36 different projects using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act Urban Forestry Grant program

  • The grant programs were available to projects in both emerging and established programs “with an emphasis on expanding tree canopy in underserved communities"

The money is being distributed across 36 different projects, both emerging and established, using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban Forestry Grant program.

“We are pleased to be able to provide these grants to local urban forestry programs,” Dan Balser, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry, said in the release. “These programs are integral to their communities, and the grants we provide help bring trees and their life-sustaining benefits to urban communities across the state.”

The grant programs, according to the release, were available to projects in both emerging and established programs “with an emphasis on expanding tree canopy in underserved communities.”

Established programs were able to qualify for grants up to $1 million, while emerging programs could qualify for those up to $50,000. The funds can be used for various project needs from staffing to tree planting and more.

“Many urban forestry programs in Ohio have tight budgets, and most of their limited resources focus on keeping essential services up and running,” Carrie Morrow, Urban & Community Forestry program manager with the Division of Forestry, said in the release. “Our grant program helps supplement urban forestry program budgets and facilitates the growth and development of community forests that support all Ohioans.”

The established community awardees are as follows:

  • City of Chillicothe ‑ $300,000
  • City of Findlay ‑ $276,000
  • City of Hamilton ‑ $300,000
  • City of Logan ‑ $255,000
  • City of Marietta ‑ $125,000
  • City of Middletown ‑ $300,000
  • City of Parma Heights ‑ $300,000
  • City of Portsmouth ‑ $300,000
  • City of Sandusky ‑ $125,000
  • City of Sidney ‑ $300,000
  • City of Springdale ‑ $300,000
  • City of Washington Court House ‑ $300,000
  • Columbus Recreation and Parks Department ‑ $500,000
  • Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed ‑ (FLOW) $117,145
  • Holden Arboretum, Holden Forests & Gardens ‑ $300,000
  • Village of Greenfield ‑ $300,000
  • Western Reserve Land Conservancy ‑ $300,000

The emerging community awardees are as follows:

  • City of Belpre ‑ $50,000
  • City of Celina ‑ $50,000
  • City of Fairview Park ‑ $50,000
  • City of Geneva ‑ $50,000
  • City of Jackson ‑ $25,000
  • City of Mount Healthy ‑ $24,973
  • City of Painesville ‑ $48,656
  • City of Ravenna ‑ $50,000
  • City of Reading ‑ $50,000
  • City of Tiffin ‑ $50,000
  • City of Whitehall ‑ $50,000
  • Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District ‑ $49,950
  • Heights Tree People, Inc. ‑ $18,340
  • Stockport Village ‑ $39,986
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center ‑ $50,000
  • Village of Baltimore ‑ $40,000
  • Village of Lakemore ‑ $46,900
  • Village of McConnelsville ‑ $18,306
  • Village of Middleport ‑ $39,325

Details on how these communities intend to use these funds can be seen here.

The release notes that these funds were provided by the USDA Forest Service and that this is just a part of the $9 million dedicated to Ohio forestry.

“This is the single largest pass-through grant ever administered by the Division of Forestry,” the release reads.

Related Stories