Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grants
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About the IRA Urban & Community Forestry Grants
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program encourages projects that plant trees and increase the benefits of tree canopy, create and support long-term and sustained urban and community forestry programs, and promote the care of trees in disadvantaged communities throughout Nevada. This program is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and is intended to support new initiatives, programs, projects, staff positions or activities not currently being funded through other sources.
| Application Portal Opens: November 15, 2023 | Applications Due: January 26, 2024, by 11:59 PM, PST | Award Notification: February 9, 2024 |
Legislative Authority
The USDA Forest Service, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Community Forestry Assistance Act of the 1990 Farm Bill, has allocated funding to the Nevada Division of Forestry for statewide distribution.
Subtitle D, Sec. 23003 (a). State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) appropriated $1.5B to provide multiyear, programmatic, competitive grants, $250M of which was distributed to states for program implementation. Nevada received $3,000,000 to be distributed statewide over a 5-year period. A minimum of $2,100,000 will be available for competitive grant programs. To advance the mission of the Justice40 initiative, proposals should deliver the benefits of IRA investments through established partnerships with local organizations working to support and enhance tree canopy in disadvantaged communities.
Eligibility Criteria
IRA funds are available exclusively for programs or projects serving disadvantaged communities, which are defined as those that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- All projects or programs must occur in, or benefit, disadvantaged communities, which can be identified by using the Nevada Division of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Mapping Tool. TThe NDF Tool uses data from Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) and the EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act Disadvantaged Communities Layer to determine eligibility.The Tool can also be used to generate maps in support of the grant application.
- Programs must be working in or with students from a Title 1 school.
Projects or programs of work completed 100% in disadvantaged communities identified by CEJST may qualify for IRA funding. IRA qualified projects will be eligible for funding up to $350,000 per project. Grant award period is up to three years, based on need and completed milestones.
Application Process
All applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM PST on January 26, 2024 through the online grant portal. No paper applications will be accepted.
Grant Opportunities
Applicants can submit proposals for Program Development and Tree Canopy Management Grants and/or Planting and Education Grants.
| Program Development & Tree Canopy Management | Planting & Education | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To support projects that may take longer than one year to implement, or that require greater funding due to their complexity | To support single site or focused projects. OR to provide direct purchasing support to initiatives by entities that lack the resources, staff and/or infrastructure to process subgrants. |
| Funding Request Range | $20,000 - $350,000 per project | $1,000 -$10,000 per project |
| Grant Delivery Method | Subgrant award from NDF | Subgrant award from NDF OR NDF direct purchase of materials. |
| Communities Served | Disadvantaged communities exclusively | Disadvantaged communities exclusively |
| Eligible Entities |
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| Eligible Activities (not an exhaustive list) |
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| Cost in Kind / Match Requirement | None | None |
| Project Time Frame | Up to 3 years | Up to 1 year |
Other Grant Requirements for Funding Disbursement
To be able to receive federal funding, applicants must comply with the following requirements that will allow for the funding to be disbursed in a timely and appropriate manner:
For Applicants Entering into Subgrant Agreements:
All applicants requesting subgrants must be registered in the Federal System for Award Management (SAM). Proof of registration and expiration date are required (see Appendix 1 for an example of proof of registration). They must also provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is generated by SAM, and their Federal Tax ID or Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Registering in SAM is free but expires every year. Grant recipients must maintain their SAM registration current for the duration of the grant along with all related information.
Applicants must also enroll as a state vendor and provide their state vendor number. Instructions, requirements and registration form can be accessed through the State Controller’s office website. Please note that the state vendor address and name must match SAM registration address and name.
For Applicants NOT Entering into Subgrant Agreements:
Applicants for Planting and Education Grants who cannot enter into a subgrant agreement will have materials and/or services outlined in the grant application directly purchased by NDF, in accordance with state purchasing guidelines. Once a grant is awarded, the grantee is expected to research state approved vendors and collect quotes and bids that will be submitted to NDF. Please note that the purchasing process for the state is likely more onerous than for other entities and will often come with a time delay.
Eligible Programs, Projects, and Lands; Ineligible Activities
Eligible projects must meet Federal and State Program objectives, as outlined in the Ten Year National Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan and/or the NDF Urban & Community Forestry Strategic Plan, which are the following:
The objectives of the 10-year National Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan are to:
- Integrate Urban and Community Forestry into all scales of planning
- Promote the role of Urban and Community Forestry in human health and wellness
- Cultivate diversity, equity and leadership within the Urban Forestry community
- Strengthen Urban and Community Forest health and biodiversity for long-term resilience
- Improve Urban and Community Forest management, maintenance and stewardship
- Diversify, leverage and increase funding for Urban and Community Forestry
- Increase public awareness and environmental education to promote stewardship
- Prioritize projects focusing work on extreme heat mitigation, urban wood utilization urban food forests and workforce development
NDF’S Urban and Community Forestry Program Goals, as defined in the 2020 Nevada Forest, Range, and Watershed Action Plan, are to:
- Develop and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders that can contribute to urban and community forest planning including design, establishment, and maintenance
- Promote the role of urban and community forestry in human health and wellness, local economies, ecosystem services, and urban livability
- Improve urban and community forest management, maintenance, and stewardship
- Diversify, leverage, and increase funding for Urban and Community Forestry activities
- Increase public awareness and environmental education to promote urban and community forest stewardship
- Cultivate diversity, equity, and leadership in the urban forest management community
The following example projects are a non-exhaustive list of possible projects by category. Other projects that fit the aforementioned goals are encouraged.
Tree Care Worker Education and Encouraging Public Valuation of Tree Benefits
Tree care or tree worker educational resource development, seminars, and workshops; Arbor Day programs; Urban forestry youth programs; Development and distribution of publicly accessible resources (physical or digital); Training of city employees and volunteers to improve community forestry practices; Increasing the number of certified arborists in Nevada.
Planning and Management
Development of or updates to tree management plans, ordinances, tree care standards and inventories; Science-based development of canopy targets; Tree board or commission development; Facilitation for shared planning efforts (i.e. coordinating across municipalities, stakeholders, and geographic regions to address shared needs); Urban forester staffing; Storm readiness planning; Invasive species removal; Hazard tree removal (must be conducted with planning and oversight of ISA certified arborist and removals MUST be accompanied by replacement plantings [only communities with tree management plans qualify]); Pruning for tree health (must meet ANSI A300 standards [only communities with tree management plans qualify])
Tree Canopy Evaluation and Management
Tree inventories (new or updates, protocol development, synthesis and promotion), including tree risk assessments; Tree canopy analyses.
Planting and Demonstration Projects
Development and support of arboretums, demonstration gardens, food forests, or climate refugia. These projects can be implemented on public or on private lands. Priority projects include those which:
- address tree equity
- mitigate the effects of extreme heat and climate change
- replace storm damaged canopy
- create greenspaces
- reduce stormwater runoff
- increase the environmental and social benefits of trees.
- include a monitoring plan to evaluate survival in the proposal to ensure protection of Federal investment with a strategy to maximize survival rates included in the project proposal
Proposals for planting projects must include planting and maintenance specifications and identify parties responsible for ensuring properly planting and maintenance implementation
Urban Forest Resiliency
Nursery and plant material development targeting current and future climate scenarios; urban forest vulnerability mapping with coordinating strategic planning efforts (including heat, drought, flood, wildfire and other climate impacts); Pest preparedness activities; Water conservation and appropriate watering practices.
Urban Forest Equity
Development of partnerships targeting equitable distribution of tree benefits; Projects focused on addressing environmental health disparities; tools or programs to assist urban forest planning and management from a perspective of improving urban forest equity.
Urban Wood Utilization
Projects putting to all use any or all parts of fresh cut urban trees; Projects that increase knowledge, awareness, and visibility of urban wood utilization and recycling; Education and outreach materials; Demonstration of specialized equipment; Techniques for working on smaller interface woodlots; Assessments of the feasibility of recycling and processing urban waste wood.
Workforce development
Programs for those with barriers to workforce entry are prioritized.
School Greening
- Multi-school or regional programs are preferred to projects serving individual schools
- See California Green Schoolyards grants for ideas
Applicants are also encouraged to submit proposals for other project needs identified in the Urban and Community Forestry section of the Nevada Forest, Range, and Watershed Action Plan (see pages 132- 139), benefitting urban forest canopy that were not identified above.
Eligible applicants may apply for funding for a project to be conducted on non-Federal lands, including but not limited to those owned by state and/or local governments, Homeowner Associations, private landowners, and tribal governments.
Eligible Lands
Eligible applicants may apply for funding for a project to be conducted on non-Federal lands, including but not limited to those owned by state and/or local governments, Homeowner Associations, private landowners, and tribal governments.
Funds may support (allowable costs; max per unit cost $5,000 for any supplies):
- Supplies (trees, non-hard-line irrigation, soil amendments and mulch necessary for tree success)
- Poly tubing is acceptable
- Above-ground drip irrigation, slow-release watering supplies (like watering bags), rainwater collection supplies, or watering buggies
- Staff compensation
- Travel for staff to implement project work (maximum reimbursement for lodging and per-diem rates as GSA rates)
- Planning needs
- Consulting contractors for plan/design development
- Materials for plant material development (nursery tree grow outs)
- Development and adoption of a written community tree management plans, community readiness plans, or tree ordinance development
- Tools and PPE necessary for successful project execution
Ineligible activities
- Refreshments or entertainment
- Ornamental grasses, forbs, vegetable gardens, turf - if not required for tree protection
- Research
- Hard-line irrigation (permanent, below-ground)
- Equipment
- Building construction (no permanent structures)
- Structure demolition
- Permanent fencing
- Land acquisition
- Gift cards
Grant dollars may not be used for projects that have already been accomplished.
Evaluation and Ranking
Priority Projects
Projects that meet any of the following criteria will receive priority:
- Municipalities applying that maintain currency on their Tree City USA qualifications
- Projects which move communities from “developing” to “managing”[1] their community forests by meeting USFS standards.
- Tree Ordinance
- Professional Forestry/Arboriculture Staff
- Tree Advisory or Advocacy Groups
- Tree Management Plan based on inventory data
- Projects that are tied to water conservation, extreme heat mitigation, or reduction in energy use.
Evaluation Criteria
Only applications that meet all requirements will be reviewed. Project proposals will be evaluated by the individual project goals and quality, and clarify of project methods, goals, and outcomes as written in the application. The grant review policy promotes a process whereby each grant application submitted is independently evaluated on its own strengths and merits.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by members of the Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council and Nevada Division of Forestry staff. If conflicts of interest exist, a recusal process will be followed.
The Nevada Division of Forestry reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. Partial funding for projects may be awarded.
Funding Awards, Reimbursements, and Reports
Project Initiation
The grant period begins when a subgrant is fully executed (for large awards), or when announcements are delivered (for small awards).
Direct purchases for “planting and education” grants
NDF may purchase items directly for entities who are not able to accept subgrant awards (subgrant awards are always preferred). NDF purchases must abide by state purchasing and contracting guidelines, will require the grantee to collect quotes and bids and at times research state approved vendors. The purchasing process for the state is likely more onerous than for other entities and will often come with a time delay.
Reimbursement Process for subgrants (all grant programs)
The funds awarded under the grant are available on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursement requests are encouraged to be submitted quarterly. Grant recipients must submit a Request for Reimbursement (included in award paperwork package) and include records of expenditures along with documentation of all costs. Expenditures must conform to program restrictions to qualify for reimbursement. Awardees are encouraged to consult with NDF staff if there are any questions about qualifying expenses.
Payments to Grant Recipients
Payments will be made as reimbursement for approved and documented project expenditures. Reimbursement requests are expected to be submitted quarterly.
Reporting
Quarterly, annual, and a final report are required of the grantee. The schedule and content of final and periodic reports will be set in advance of initiating the project. Final Reports must be submitted within 45 days of project completion detailing how the project goals and objectives were achieved; for example, a tree planting project detailing the number and species of trees planted, photos of the completed project and maintenance plan.
Review of Projects
The Nevada Division of Forestry reserves the right to inspect projects at any time. All educational materials (written or video developed) as part of a grant project should be reviewed by a Nevada Division of Forestry forester prior to final printing to ensure that standards for tree planting and maintenance are met.
Recognition
Any IRA funded projects will need to provide funding acknowledgement and signage. Signage costs may be included in the grant requests. All published (print and digital materials) should acknowledge USFS funding and include the following statement: “This project is funded (in part) by the USDA Forest Service. In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.”
Extensions and Defaults
If an applicant cannot complete the proposed project within the given timeframe, the applicant must notify the grant administrator and forfeit funding or request an extension before the project expiration date.
If a final report, grant forfeit, or extension request is not submitted by the deadline, the application will be considered an unexcused default. Applicants who default on the 2023-2024 Community Forestry Partnership Grant will not be eligible for the following year’s Community Forestry Grant cycle. Unexcused default applicants will regain eligibility for the cycle following the next cycle.
Projects must comply with federal, state and local laws, ordinances, and regulations. Grant funded activities must comply with federal and state equal opportunity and non-discrimination policies.
Entities may apply for additional funds to extend existing programs in future cycles if project funds are fully and correctly utilized within the original project timeframe.
*** Awardees must show project progress within the first year after the award agreement is finalized. If no progress is documented, the subgrant agreement may be modified to a reduced funding level.
Project Guidelines
- Any project involving tree planting must include a five-year (3-year) maintenance plan.
- All trees purchased must meet the American Standard for Nursery Stock
- Administrative costs associated with the proposed activities may not exceed 20% of the reimbursable project costs.
- This is a reimbursable grant program. No grant funds will be distributed until project expenditures and match (if required) have both incurred.
- Grant funds cannot be used to purchase capital equipment (i.e., costing >$5,000). However, they may be used to rent equipment.
Letters of intent and/or support
Letters of intent and signatures from volunteers that will be providing cash or in-kind match are not required. However, letters of support from sponsors, partnering organizations, and community leaders may help your application.
Additional Resources
Strategic plans to reference:
- National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council ten-year Urban Forest action plan: https://urbanforestplan.org/
- Nevada Division of Forestry Forest, Watershed, and Rangeland Action Plan: https://forestry.nv.gov/natural-resource-management/state-frwap
General Resources:
- International Society of Arboriculture: www.isa-arbor.com
- Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Program: www.ArborDay.org
- USDA Forest Service: fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf
- Tree care and selection how-to: www.treesaregood.com
- www.treecaretips.org
Species Selection Recommendations
- https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
- https://www.snwa.com/assets/pdf/water-smart-plant-list.pdf
- https://www.aztrees.org/Native-Trees-AZ-NM
Non-Discrimination Statement
The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
[1] The USDA Forest Service defines a “managing” forestry community as having all four of the following benchmarks (“developing” communities will have at least one component):