Forestry - UCF IRA FY25

Funding for the Urban and Community Forestry Grants is derived from a federal award from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 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

IRA Funds - $300,000 available (no match requirement) for projects that take place entirely within a disadvantaged area as defined by the Montana Urban and Community Forestry Grant Tool. This tool identifies areas that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution in national datasets. No match is required for these funds, but additional tracking and reporting requirements may be required.

The projects are meant to be large-scale and have long-term community impact. Minimum request is $10,000; Maximum request is $50,000 including indirect costs. 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: Friday, January 3, 2025, 5pm.

Approximate Notification Date: February 2025 

Grantees will be given 24 months to complete the project from the date the agreement is activated. Grantees should plan to begin funded activities in May 2025. 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 2025.

Federal and State Program Goals

Your proposal should tie to the Federal and State goals, by creating relevant objectives, and public awareness specific to your community. The use of these funds should align with the following plans and initiatives:

• National 10-year Urban Forestry Action Plan Goals 1-7: Planning; Human Health; Diversity, Equity, and Leadership; Environmental Health; Management; Funding; and Education and Awareness.
• Montana’s State Forest Action Plan Recommendations: Diversity, health, and resilience for urban forests; Urban tree canopy cover for ecosystem benefits; Mitigate impacts of Emerald Ash Borer; Restoration with plant nurseries; Human and community health; Working forests and economies; Climate change.
• Montana Climate Solutions Plan Recommendations: Preparing Montanans for climate impacts, strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation. 
• Justice40 Initiative Recommendations: Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning, and improved resilience to climate change, pests, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices.
• Inflation Reduction Act Recommendations: Increased and equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities.

Projects may include but are not limited to: identifying areas lacking canopy cover to plant trees strategically; supporting the use of food forests; education; trial projects for climate adaptation or a specific function i.e., pollution control, stormwater, human health, and wellness; workforce development and training; inventory and management plans; hazardous tree removal and replacement; and management and planning for trees at risk. 

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Project Budget Information

Project grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursement will not be made until expenditures have been paid and DNRC has received all required documentation. Recipients may submit multiple requests for reimbursement throughout the period of performance, as often as once per month.

The U.S. Forest Service and Inflation Reduction Act 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 of regular or established personnel may not be charged to grant funds.)

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 and insurance. 

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.

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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 2025.

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:

Alexis Armstrong, Forestry Assistance Program Support Technician. 

Montana DNRC, 2705 Spurgin Road Missoula, Montana 59804-3199. 

Telephone: 406-542-4207. 

Email: alexis.armstrong@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 to develop your responses. When ready to submit your application, copy and paste the answers into the Submittable form.