Financial help

DNR Urban Forestry Program Announces Second Round Of 2024 Grant Recipients

Posted on by janness

By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grants Manager Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the second round of Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2024 grant year. The program helps fund projects consistent with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy.

The Urban Forestry Grant Program awarded $143,362 to seven Wisconsin communities for urban forestry projects.

Most of the funding ($139,920) was originally reserved for the Catastrophic Storm Grant Program but was not needed through the winter months. The rest of the funding ($3,442) came from carryover funding.

Continue reading “DNR Urban Forestry Program Announces Second Round Of 2024 Grant Recipients” →

Funding Available For Nature-based Climate Solutions

Posted on by janness

The Daybreak Fund was launched in 2023 to advance nature-based solutions to climate change in the Western Lake Michigan region. Geographically, the Daybreak Fund targets watersheds within the Lake Michigan Basin in Wisconsin and in Lake County in far northern Illinois. After making an initial round of grants last fall, the Daybreak Fund is now accepting pre-applications for 2024. Continue reading “Funding Available For Nature-based Climate Solutions” →

Weed Management Area Grant Deadline Nears

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center;
Erika.SegersonMueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391

Controlling invasive plants on your forested property can be a challenging and costly endeavor. The Weed Management Area – Private Forest Grant Program (WMA-PFGP) helps make this process easier for its recipients. Though the April 1 application deadline is quickly approaching, there is still time to apply for funding for your forest.

Continue reading “Weed Management Area Grant Deadline Nears” →

DNR Seeking Applications For Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants: Submit Applications By June 3

Posted on by janness

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced it is accepting applications for the Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant program. The program, which launched in January, uses federal funds to support projects that positively impact trees and people within disadvantaged communities* in Wisconsin.

The DNR is hosting a webinar on March 14 at 1 p.m. to provide an overview of the application and answer questions. A link to register is available on the DNR Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants webpage. The application deadline      is June 3, 2024.

Potential projects may involve conserving, protecting, expanding or improving urban forests. Examples include tree planting, hazard tree removal and pest control. Projects can also be capacity-building endeavors, such as urban forestry management plans, tree inventories and public education.

Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations conducting their projects in Wisconsin may apply for an Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant. Eligible projects must occur in or benefit those living in disadvantaged communities as identified by        the DNR on this map and list.

Continue reading “DNR Seeking Applications For Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants: Submit Applications By June 3” →

Upcoming Webinars For Inflation Reduction Act Grant

Posted on by janness

children playing in parkThe Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant program uses federal funds to support projects that positively impact trees and people within disadvantaged communities in Wisconsin. Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations conducting their projects in Wisconsin may apply for an Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction grant. Eligible projects must occur in or benefit those living in disadvantaged communities, as identified by the DNR on this map and list.

DNR staff will host at least three webinars that outline the Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant application process and allow time for questions and answers. See the webinar schedule below:

  • Register For Webinar 1                Friday, Feb. 9, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
  • Register For Webinar 2                Thursday, March 14, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
  • Webinar 3-Save The Date          Wednesday, May 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

For more information, visit the Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry webpage

Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants Update: Upcoming Webinar and Public Comment Opportunity

Posted on by janness

Laura Buntrock, DNR Urban Forestry Partnership & Policy Specialist
Laura.Buntrock@wisconsin.gov or 608-294-0253

woman looking at a treeWebinar:

Mark your calendars! The DNR Urban Forestry Team will host a webinar on Friday, Feb. 9 from 9-10:30 a.m. The webinar will begin with an overview of the Inflation Reduction Act Grant opportunity, followed by time for Q&A. Stay tuned to the Urban Forestry Newsfeed for more details, including a registration link. Sign up to receive the Urban Forestry Newsletter.

Public comment opportunity:

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking input on the Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants 2024 Application Guide.

This guide details:

  • The purpose, priorities and goals for the Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant opportunity
  • Eligible and ineligible projects and expenses
  • Required documents
  • Reimbursement and reporting schedules
  • Submission guidelines and deadlines
  • DNR contact information
  • Guidance for working with consultants and conducting work on private property
  • The methodology used to define disadvantaged communities
  • And more

Continue reading “Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants Update: Upcoming Webinar and Public Comment Opportunity” →

Fight Invasives As Part Of A CISMA

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center;
Erika.SegersonMueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391

Photo of a goat grazing during a demonstration held by the Monroe County Invasive Species Working Group

A field day in August 2023, hosted by Monroe County Invasive Species Working Group, featured a live goat grazing demonstration among presentations that included invasive plant identification tips, funding opportunities and management techniques. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

If you’ve been fighting invasive plants in your woodlands, you may have wondered if there were any groups in your area to support weed management. The short answer? Probably!

Wisconsin currently has 14 different Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas, or CISMAs. These regional county groups bring together community members to work on various invasive species-related projects ranging from fieldwork outings to controlling and monitoring invasive plant occurrences to education and outreach events so more local citizens can learn about and get involved with invasive plant management.

Continue reading “Fight Invasives As Part Of A CISMA” →

Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants Update

Posted on by janness

By Laura Buntrock, DNR UF Partnership & Policy Specialist, Rhinelander; Laura.Buntrock@wisconsin.gov or 608-294-0253

We are excited to share the following updates on Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR was allocated $4.875 million of Inflation Reduction Act funds from the USDA Forest Service earlier this year. Of that, $4 million will be sub-awarded to local entities through our competitive grant program. Given the requirements and intentions of these funds, the Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants will People Talking at an Urban Parklook different from the grants we have offered in the past. We have meticulously worked through the emergency rule change process to temporarily modify the structure of our grant program to facilitate the disbursement of this new funding. Our regular and start-up grant offerings will continue unchanged in 2024.

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DNR Urban Forestry Program Announces 2024 Grant Recipients

Posted on by janness

By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager; Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099

city with trees

Photo Credit: Preston Keres, USDA Forest Service

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2024 grant year. The program helps fund projects consistent with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy.

The Urban Forestry Grant Program is distributing almost $805,000 in grant funds, with $554,680 in state funding and an additional $250,066 in federal funding. A dollar-for-dollar match puts the estimated cost of these projects over $1.6 million. In total, 58 applications were selected to receive funding, with awards ranging from $1,580 to $25,000. Continue reading “DNR Urban Forestry Program Announces 2024 Grant Recipients” →

Wood Innovations Grant Program

Posted on by patricialindquist

The USDA Forest Service is announcing the availability of $20 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to support projects that will substantially expand and accelerate wood products and wood energy markets throughout the United States. Additional funds from annual agency appropriations will be subject to availability. The intent is to stimulate, expand and support U.S. wood products and wood energy markets to support long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands while enhancing the economic and environmental health of communities.

Eligible applicants include for-profit entities, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, school districts, communities, not-for-profit organizations, institutes of higher education and species purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts and ports).

Continue reading “Wood Innovations Grant Program” →