Illinois IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) Programming
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Background
Trees Forever recognizes the immense benefits of trees to rural landscapes and urban communities. Shade, wildlife habitat for pollinators, and stormwater filtration are just a few of these many benefits. However, these benefits are not evenly distributed across our towns and cities. To change that, Trees Forever in partnership with the Illinois DNR, Morton Arboretum, Chicago Regional Trees Initiative, and the US Forest Service will work with Illinois communities to build up their urban tree capacity and canopy with a range of options towns and cities can choose from to get started, or to enhance their current efforts to plant and care for trees in Illinois communities.
Opportunities
Trees Forever has staff available to work with Illinois communities to assist them with a range of services from developing a tree board or adopting tree ordinances to completing an inventory and management plan. Trees Forever is here to help guide your community along the way.
Trees Forever will be rolling out three grant award programs in the coming weeks and months:
- Community tree planting grants for underserved communities. Tree planting grants up to $15,000 dollars will be awarded for planting in 2024.
- Inventory and management plan funding for plans that meet the specifications adopted for the program. This will allow towns to know what their species composition is and the health of those public trees currently growing on public property.
- Tree removal funding for communities that achieve Tree City USA designation through the Arbor Day Foundation. Funding up to $25,000 is available for the removal of public trees for those towns that become Tree City USA communities.