Governor Evers and the DNR Announce Urban Forestry Grant Recipients

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 -- 9:00 AM

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Urban Forestry Grant (UF) recipients, funded through the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The funds will go toward work such as removing hazardous trees, increasing the forest canopy through planting, supporting urban forestry workforce development, and using trees to reduce urban heat.

Additionally, UF IRA will also help support Wisconsin’s goal of planting 1 million trees in urban areas. The UF IRA Grant program uses federal funds from the USDA Forest Service to support projects that positively impact trees and people within disadvantaged communities in Wisconsin.

According to the DNR, a well-managed urban forest increases property values, reduces stormwater runoff and erosion, improves air quality, and reduces energy used for heating and cooling.

Some local recipients include the City of Colby receiving $47,900 to make the city of Colby green; Marathon County Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department receiving $498,482.08 to the City of Wausau for tree planting and private ash mitigation project; and the City of Eau Claire receiving $486,000 for greening urban spaces in disadvantaged Eau Claire neighborhoods.

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