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SHINN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY
OF OVER $1 MILLION IN COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANTS
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Shinn announced today
$1,045,000 in grants is available through three separate
grant programs administered by the Division of Parks and
Forestry's Community Forestry Program.
Counties, municipalities, and non-profit
organizations are encouraged to apply for these grants which
are designed to help fund projects involving the planting
and care of trees in municipalities across the state.
The Community Forestry Program, part of
the State Forest Service, is responsible for the planning,
design, and management of trees and tree programs on public
lands in and around communities. The three funding opportunities
are outlined below.
Challenge Grant - Deadline Oct. 29!
The 2002 Green Communities Challenge
Grant provides up to $2,000 for any county or municipality
to hire a forestry consultant to write a Community Forestry
Management Plan. This management plan allows a town to assess
its community forest and prioritize work that needs to be
done. Once the state approves the plan and the municipality
comes into compliance with the New Jersey Shade Tree and
Community Forestry Assistance Act, they are afforded indemnification
from tree related liabilities in their communities and their
trees are cared for in a safe and sustainable fashion.
Successful proposals will include a completed
application and the intent to oversee the completion of
the Management Plan. Also, a matching amount equal to or
greater then one-half of the grant is necessary, either
as cash or in-kind services. In-kind services of volunteers
are budgeted at $15.39 per hour.
Applications for the challenge grants
must be received by October 29, 2001. The total funding
available for the Green Communities Challenge grants is
$60,000, which is funded by the USDA Forest Service through
the National Urban and Community Forestry Program. Recipients
will receive notifications in December 2001.
Stewardship Grant - Deadline Nov.
16!
The 2002 Community Stewardship Incentive
Program Grant provides cost-sharing funding for a municipality
or county to implement their approved Community Forestry
Management Plan. The cost-share ratio is 75% grant to 25%
match of cash or in-kind services. Seventy percent of the
grant is allocated in advance of the project, and the remaining
30 percent is a reimbursement upon the project's completion.
Only municipalities and counties with an
approved management plan can apply for this grant. In addition,
applicants for this grant are not eligible for the 2002
Tree Planting Grant. Successful proposals will include a
completed application, a project narrative, and a budget,
along with any relevant appendices. Proposals will be reviewed,
evaluated, and ranked for awarding based on available funding.
The deadline to apply for these stewardship
grants is Nov. 16, 2001. Applicants will be notified
in January of 2002. The work period for this grant is one
year and the maximum grant amount is $9,000. Total funding
available for these grants is about $650,000.
Tree Planting Grant - Deadline Dec.
14!
The 2002 NJ Tree Planting Grant
is open to any municipality, county or non-profit organization
that wishes to plant trees on any municipally owned land
(right-of-way, park, school, etc.). The project's proposal
must include an application, project narrative, project
budget, a comprehensive planting plan, and all relevant
appendices. Those applying for the CSIP Grant are not eligible
for a Tree Planting Grant this year.
It is a competitive, cost-sharing grant
that will be evaluated and ranked by the NJ Community Forestry
Council. The cost-share ratio is 75 percent grant to 25
percent match of cash or in-kind services. Seventy percent
of the grant is given in advance of the project and the
remaining 30 percent is a reimbursement upon completion
of the project.
The application deadline for this grant
is Dec. 14, 2001. The maximum grant is $7,500. All application
packages will be reviewed, evaluated, and ranked for funding
based on available funds. About $335,000 is available. Notification
of grant awards will be sent in February 2002.
For more information or to request applications,
contact: NJ DEP - Division of Parks and Forestry, Mariclaire
McCartan, Grants Coordinator for the Community Forestry
Program, P.O. Box 404, Trenton, NJ 08625-0404 or telephone
(609) 292-2532. Further details can be found on the Community
Forestry Program web site at www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/community/Grants.htm.
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