The Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been announced. The U.S. Forest Service is making up to $1 billion available in Urban and Community Forestry competitive grants for investments that:
- Increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities,
- Broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning,
- Improve community and urban forest resilience to climate change, pests, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices.
Notes:
- Proposal deadline is June 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET
- $100,000 minimum and $50 million maximum funding request
- 5-year grant agreement
- All federal grant funds are to be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non-federal match. Match waivers are available for proposals that deliver 100% of the funding/program benefits to disadvantaged communities.
- Organizations must have an active registration and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov to apply. Creating a first-time registration may take several weeks or more to complete, so apply for SAM registration early.
Questions:
For questions related to the NOFO proposal requirements or information contained within the NOFO, such as dates, page numbers, and clarification of discrepancies, email SM.FS.UCF_IRA@usda.gov. NOTE: Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.
More resources:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html
https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests