Urban and Community Forestry Program
Urban and Community Forestry Program supports Rhode Island communities with forestry planning, education, and strategic tree planting to improve tree management and expand public benefits.
Funder: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Due Dates: November 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM (Application) | July 1, 2027 (Mid-year report) | February 1, 2028 (Project completion) | March 1, 2028 / March 2, 2028 (Final paperwork; confirm with coordinator)
Funding Amounts: $2,000–$10,000, reimbursement only; RFP requires an equal non-federal match and projects completable within 12 months
Summary: Supports Rhode Island community forestry planning, education, and strategic tree planting to improve forest management and public benefits.
Key Information: Stand-alone tree planting is not eligible; planting must support a broader community forestry effort.
Description
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program provides competitive cost-share grants in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region. It supports more effective management of trees and forests where people live, work, and play, while improving public understanding of the benefits of preserving community tree cover. Those benefits include shade, cleaner air and water, reduced stormwater runoff, and wildlife habitat.
Projects should address at least one Rhode Island Forest Action Plan goal: conserving community trees through sustainable management, protecting forests from threats through planning and response, or enhancing public benefits through improved management. Funding supports new initiatives or expansion of existing programs, including inventories, management plans, education, training, and strategic planting—not replacement of existing funding.
