Forestry - FY26 UCF Program Development (PD)
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Funding for the Urban and Community Forestry Program Development Grants is derived from a federal award from the United States Forest Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Forestry Division. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Funding Overview
Urban and Community Forestry: Program Development Funds - $90,000 available (3:1 match requirement)
The projects are meant to be large-scale and have long-term community impact. Minimum request is $5,000; Maximum request is $20,000 including indirect costs (if requesting). Grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis.
Eligible entities include Montana cities, towns, counties, community-based organizations, public and state institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and tribal governments interested in conducting innovative projects in urban forestry.
When developing a proposal, contact with the area DNRC Forestry staff is important. They will help you through the project design and planning process.
Find your local Forester HERE.
Application Deadline: January 16, 2026
Approximate Notification Date: February 2026
Grantees will have 12 months to complete the project from the date the agreement is activated. Grantees should plan to begin funded activities in May 2026. Funded activities cannot begin until the grant agreement is signed.
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Program Purpose
UCF Grants support goals identified by the Forest Service and DNRC for 2026, by creating relevant objectives, and public awareness specific to your community. Program Development grants aim to enhance and improve a community’s urban forestry program. Small and large population communities may have different needs, and the Montana UCF program considers this to provide the best possible assistance. Program Development grants support goals identified by the Forest Service and DNRC, which include:
- Implementing recommendations from Montana’s State Forest Action Plan (page 69-70)
- Encouraging resilient urban landscapes that are adaptive to climate change
- Advancing inventory and assessment information
- Increasing public education about urban forest health and wellness benefits
- Strengthening partnerships with underserved groups
This year’s theme is Longevity and Readiness – Planning, Risk Mitigation & Tree Health
Focus: Laying the groundwork for long-term urban forest health through planning, risk management, and proactive care.
Key Concepts:
· Conducting tree inventories and creating urban forest management plans, including tree protection during construction
· Emergency planning, Tree Emergency Manual development, and disaster recovery
· Risk mitigation for pests, storms, and natural disasters
· Pruning, tree repair, hazard tree removals, and canopy health
· Homeowner education on general tree care and maintenance
Example Projects:
· Conduct new or update existing tree inventories
· Develop or update Management Plan, including tree protection
· Create Preparedness Plans (e.g. development for storm readiness or emergency, post-disaster tree maintenance plan creation, invasive species, such as EAB)
· Utilize existing inventory to create workplans to address dead or dying trees, particularly, removals of hazardous trees in higher traffic areas (with an emphasis on ash), and updating the inventory with new, replacement species
· Utilizing appropriately timed, proper pruning techniques to train young trees and maintenance pruning of medium to large trees in efforts to improve structure and health in overall existing canopies
· Homeowner and neighborhood tree care workshops
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Project Budget Information
Grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursement will not be made until expenditures have been paid and all required documentation has been received by DNRC. Recipients may submit multiple requests for reimbursement throughout the period of performance, as often as once per month.
The U.S. Forest Service will be acknowledged as a funding source for each project funded out of this grant according to USFS guidance and any future signage requirements. The cost of signage is reimbursable and may be included in your budget.
REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES May Include:
Personnel Expenses - Cost of hiring seasonal employees or special staff to carry out the project. (Costs for regular or established personnel may not be charged to grant funds but may count as match.)
Operating Expenditures - Cost of purchasing appropriate supplies and materials to complete the project. Examples: trees, planting supplies, some types of irrigation, equipment rental, media (public service announcements), printing, or educational elements related to urban forestry (workshops, speaker costs, educational publications, facility fees).
Contracted Professional Services - Costs related to hiring a consultant or contractor (arboriculture, forestry, landscape design, or planning) or other professional for the project.
Indirect Costs - An organization’s Indirect Rate for administration and expenses not directly allocable to the grant – such as electricity, insurance, and accounting services.
NON-REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES:
Capital assets - Purchases of large equipment (value of $5,000+) and some types of hardscaping.
Other examples include food (exceptions may apply), entertainment, gifts, promotional items, and alcohol. For more guidance, please review the DNRC Subaward Manual, p.7.
ALLOWABLE MATCH Expenses May Include:
Match may be in the form of cash expenditures or in-kind contributions; no match may come from Federal or DNRC sources. State funds from other agencies are allowable.
Cash contributions
Cash contributions are direct out-of-pocket expenditures for eligible project activities that are documented by paid invoices, canceled checks, signed receipts, or payroll records.
In-Kind Contributions
Include third-party donations of supplies or equipment, and value of time by volunteers on eligible project activities. Assistance provided by Federal employees and/or DNRC employees may not be claimed as part of the project match.
In-Kind Contribution Guidelines
Volunteers - (must include a list of volunteers, date, type of work done, hours worked, and rate.) Log their efforts by listing the activity date, time spent/hours, number of individuals, and description of their activity.
Donated professional services – use market rates for services provided.
Donations of materials – use current retail rates.
For more information about reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses, and suitable forms of match, please refer to the DNRC Subaward Manual.
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Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed and scored by a selection committee. Applicants will be notified of their award status in February 2026.
Proposal scoring is based on how each project meets the Federal and State program goals, sustainability, and community impact. Pictures, maps, and other relevant materials are encouraged to better illustrate your project.
For additional information contact:
Hannah Payne, Westside Service Forester, hannah.payne@mt.gov
Sheri Steckler, Eastside Service Forester, sheri.steckler@mt.gov
To aid in your application preparation, DNRC has developed a WORKSHEET of the questions for you to preview. You can use this Microsoft Word file as a place to develop your responses. When ready to submit your application, copy and paste the answers into the Submittable form.