The Delaware Urban and Community Forestry Program has awarded more than $110,000 for 29 tree projects throughout the First State. Since its inception, the annual grant program has provided more than $1.75 million to help communities increase tree canopy and promote the natural benefits of trees: cleaner air and water, increased property values and civic pride, and reduced storm water runoff and flooding. The grants, selected by a committee of Delaware’s Community Forestry Council, require a 50-50 cost-share match in cash or in-kind services, such as volunteer time, equipment, or supplies.
The program is open to any city, town, community group, homeowner association, or certified nonprofit organization in the State of Delaware. Awards ranged from $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management (tree inventory only). Projects must be completed on public lands in the community. Priority was given to first-time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities,
and municipalities with an urban tree canopy resolution.
Urban and Community Grants
| Community Name | County | Award |
| City of Newark | New Castle | $895.00 |
| Alapocas | New Castle | $1,800.00 |
| Westover Hills Section A | New Castle | $2,150.00 |
| Village of Ardentown | New Castle | $2,252.00 |
| The Village of Fountainview | New Castle | $3,000.00 |
| Village of Arden | New Castle | $3,372.30 |
| Piedmont Baseball and Softball League | New Castle | $5,000.00 |
| Westover Hills Section C | New Castle | $5,000.00 |
| Wynthorpe Maintenance Corp. | New Castle | $5,000.00 |
| Town of Smyrna | Kent | $4,000.00 |
| Spring Meadows | Kent | $5,000.00 |
| City of Lewes | Sussex | $1,225.91 |
| Bayside Fenwick Island | Sussex | $1,638.00 |
| Shoreview Woods | Sussex | $3,442.40 |
| James Farm – Inland Bays | Sussex | $4,342.50 |
| Town of Dagsboro | Sussex | $4,400.00 |
| The Meadows of the Village at Old Landing | Sussex | $4,681.00 |
| Breakwater – Lewes | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| Grande at Canal Pointe | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| Holland Mills | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| Long Neck Shores | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| Total | $77,199.11 |
Chesapeake Bay Grants
Three of the grants, totaling about $5,000 each, were awarded to the City of Seaford’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the Seaford Historical Society’s Ross Plantation, and Trap Pond Partners near Laurel. Both Seaford and Laurel are located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the largest estuary in the United States and a high-priority for projects to improve water quality.
| Community Name | County | Award |
| Ross Plantation – Seaford Historical Society | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| City of Seaford – Dept. of Parks and Recreation | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| Trap Pond Partners | Sussex | $5,000.00 |
| Total | $15,000 |
Focus-Funded Projects
The U&CF Program provided $18,000 to schools and public agencies for five planting projects to increase tree canopy in community open space. In most cases, trees were planted by volunteers and the projects actively involved students and school personnel in the planting process. Students learned the proper way to plant trees and the many benefits of trees. The following groups received FY19 focus grants: Lake Forest North Elementary School, Eisenberg Elementary School, MOT Charter School, the City of Dover, and Kent County.