For Release: Monday, July 25, 2011
DEC Announces $1,000,000 in Urban Forestry Grants
Funding Will Help Support Tree Plantings and Other Projects Across the State
Urban forestry grants totaling $966,489 are being awarded to communities and organizations across New York, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The New York State Urban and Community Forestry Program provides technical assistance to communities through local DEC Urban Foresters and ReLeaf volunteers. Financial assistance is available from the state through competitive cost-share grants.
"Urban forestry initiatives are key to promoting clean air, clean water, energy savings, habitat creation, and improved quality of life for New York residents," Commissioner Martens, said. "These grants build upon our goals to improve the environment across the state and will have a lasting impact by creating cleaner, healthier communities for both current and future generations to enjoy."
Funding for the grants comes from the state's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to support a variety of projects involving community tree planting, tree inventories and management plans, as well as green infrastructure projects such as rain gardens and green roofs. A total of 62 recipients from cities, villages, towns and not-for-profit organizations across the state have been chosen.
Quick Start grants of $1,000 each were awarded to 15 communities to help fund the creation of local tree planting programs and Arbor Day celebrations. The grants provide funding for trees, soil, labor and materials needed to complete the projects. Awards will be matched by funds ranging from in-kind services, donations, and project-related purchases such as garden tools and additional trees.
Recipients were chosen from 163 applicants based on criteria that included the contributions the projects will have on the local environment. In addition to environmental and forestry components, reviewers considered how projects would contribute to environmental justice by factoring in population density, relative economic status, and outreach to underserved communities. Applicants were encouraged to form regional partnerships and submit proposals that help implement watershed protection and Smart Growth initiatives with green solutions.
2009-10 EPF Urban & Community Grant Awardees - "Round 10"- Awarded in July, 2011 include:
| Grant Recipient | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|
| Syracuse, City of, Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs | $62,500 |
| New York Restoration Project | $62,500 |
| Trees New York | $45,412 |
| Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project | $25,000 |
| Rockaway Waterfront Alliance | $61,500 |
| Gowana Canal Conservancy | $37,400 |
| City of New York, Parks & Recreation (NYC DPR) | $53,870 |
| Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy | $62,500 |
| City of Rochester | $62,500 |
| Grant Recipient | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|
| Town of Red Hook | $ 7,982 |
| Village of Penn Yan | $12,500 |
| City of Binghamton | $25,000 |
| Village of Oxford & Tree Board | $24,950 |
| City of Cortland | $15,295 |
| Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. | $25,000 |
| Village of Morrisville | $ 2,500 |
| ReTree Schenectady | $ 7,500 |
| Village of Wappingers Falls | $12,500 |
| CityOgdensburg, City of | $25,000 |
| City of Ithaca | $ 5,600 |
| City of Kingston | $ 5,275 |
| Village of Marsathon | $ 2,500 |
| St. Regis Mohawk Tribe | $ 9,968 |
| Village of Greenport | $12,000 |
| City of Norwich | $ 4,236 |
| Village of Scottsville | $ 2,500 |
| Village of Fayetteville | $ 7,372 |
| Town of Babylon | $25,000 |
| City of Geneva | $25,000 |
| Town of Tonawanda | $25,000 |
| The Garden City Bird Sanctuary, Inc. | $ 7,500 |
| Incorporated Village of Belle Terre | $12,981 |
| Village of Fredonia | $ 8,000 |
| Friends of Hempstead Plains at Nassau Community College | $ 7,000 |
| Town of Islip | $25,000 |
| Town of Oyster Bay | $24,956 |
| Village of Montour Falls | $11,720 |
| Town of DeWitt | $15,900 |
| City of Watertown | $ 5,000 |
| Town of Cheektowaga | $25,000 |
| Village of Arcade | $ 5,483 |
| Village of Hamburg | $ 6,583.69 |
| Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper | $25,000 |
| Village of Brockport | $ 6,596 |
"Quick Start" Grants (all for $1,000 except Fredonia, who requested $900):
Town of Yorktown
City of Elmira
Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson
Village of Lowville
Village of Greenwood Lake
Village of Fredonia
Village of Prospect
Town of Stanford
Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington
Village of Frankfort
City of Oswego
Village of Silver Creek
Town of East Fishkill
Frontier High School
Constantia Parks & Recreation Commission
For more information on New York's Urban and Community Forestry Program and the Cost-Share grants, visit DEC's website..
