The Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program awarded over $47,000 in competitive grants to fund 14 community-based tree projects in all three Delaware counties. Homeowner groups, civic associations, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities were eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in funds for a tree planting or tree management project. Recipients are required to match at least 50 percent of their grant through cash or in-kind match of volunteer hours or equipment. This year, more than half of the successful projects – a total of $29,429.35 – addressed tree management issues such as the removal of hazardous trees. Overall, 11 projects were funded in New Castle County, one in Kent County, and two in Sussex County. Applications were evaluated by a committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council according to several factors, including whether the community or municipality has adopted a tree canopy goal, first-time applicant status, and how well the project addresses key objectives in the Delaware Forest Service’s Statewide Forest Strategy.
Since the grant program’s inception in 1991, the Delaware Forest Service has awarded over $1.76 million to more than 200 organizations to improve their urban forest resources. More information about Delaware’s urban and community forestry program is online at delawaretrees.com. Urban forester Kesha Braunskill can be reached at 302.698.4578 or kesha.braunskill@state.de.us.
2014 Urban and Community Grant Recipients
TREE MANAGEMENT GRANTS | ||
County | Community/Municipality | Amount |
New Castle | Ardentown | $4,169.00 |
New Castle | Carrcroft | $2,000.00 |
New Castle | Edenridge | $5,000.00 |
New Castle | Newark | $4,847.85 |
New Castle | Odessa | $5,000.00 |
New Castle | Tavistock | $2,950.00 |
Sussex | Georgetown | $462.50 |
Sussex | South Bethany | $5,000.00 |
TREE PLANTING GRANTS | ||
County | Community/Municipality | Amount |
New Castle | Arden | $2,214.50 |
New Castle | Beech Hill | $3,170.00 |
New Castle | Delaware City | $3,843.50 |
New Castle | Westover Hills | $1,289.00 |
Kent County | Parks and Recreation | $2,415.00 |
CHESAPEAKE BAY GRANTS | ||
County | Community/Municipality | Amount |
New Castle | Bay Pointe | $5,000.00 |
Total: $47,361.35 |