Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Department of Conservation Offcers Grants to Communities for Tree Care

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering cost-share grant money to help communities improve the care of their trees. These Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grants can help government agencies, public schools, and not-for-profit groups manage, improve, and conserve trees and forests on local public land.

According to MDC, the grant monies are often used to fund community tree inventories, removal or pruning of hazardous trees, tree planting, and to train volunteers and city and county employees to best care for community trees and forests.

"TRIM grant recipients focus on keeping their neighborhood trees healthy and thriving, which translates to a whole host of social, economic, and environmental benefits for the community and the state," said MDC Forestry Management Chief Justine Gartner.

TRIM grants are administered by MDC in cooperation with the Missouri Community Forest Council. The program provides reimbursements of $1,000 to $10,000 to grant recipients to fund up to 60 percent of money needed for projects. Projects located in communities with the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA designation are eligible for an additional 15 percent in matching funds.
TRIM grant applicants must submit a completed application by June 3 that details project costs and funding sources, maps and drawings of the project site, and a narrative outlining the purpose and anticipated long-term impacts of the project. Proposals are assessed on a competitive basis for their value to the community, the ability to promote, improve, and develop a community's forest, and economic feasibility.

To apply and for more information, visit the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/11123.

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