Urban and Community Forestry Program
The Urban and Community Forestry Program supports Rhode Island communities through forest planning, education, and strategic tree planting to improve tree management and public understanding.
Funder: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Due Dates: September 15, 2026 (Applications open) | November 15, 2026 (Application deadline, 4:00 p.m.)
Funding Amounts: $2,000–$10,000 requests; 50% non-federal match; projects completed within 12 months
Summary: Competitive grants support projects that improve the management of Rhode Island’s urban and community forests and public understanding of their benefits.
Key Information: Awards are reimbursement-only; applicants must provide a match equal to the grant amount.
Description
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management administers this competitive grant program in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. It supports new urban forestry initiatives and the expansion or improvement of existing programs, rather than replacing current funding. Projects may develop community forestry programs, provide education and outreach, or incorporate strategic municipal tree planting.
Projects should address at least one goal of Rhode Island’s Forest Action Plan: conserving trees and forests through active management, protecting them from threats through planning and response, or improving management to increase their public benefits. The program also seeks to improve public understanding of the value of existing community tree cover.
