Exciting news!
Governor 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 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. Sixty-one applications were submitted, totaling more than $16.5 million in requests, exceeding the $4 million of available funds.
The City of Sheboygan will receive funding in the amount of $174,616.42, for the reforestation and retention of trees. Air pollutants and ground level ozone are major problems facing Sheboygan. This project will improve air quality and safety for Sheboygan residents in disadvantaged communities by increasing and maintaining the urban tree canopy. The city will inventory current street tree planting sites while also creating new planting spots by grinding approximately 220 tree stumps. For each stump removed, three trees will be planted, 660 in total.
Furthermore, 500 mature ash trees will be preserved by insecticide treatments to combat emerald ash borer damage. Public outreach will include engaging community members in tree care, educating them on the benefits of urban trees and encouraging them to get involved by pledging to water a newly planted street tree. Community-based grant partners will lead meetings with neighborhood associations and parent-teacher organizations.
A total of twelve other Wisconsin communities will also receive funding. The DNR has developed an interactive map to capture the impacts of each project, including the City of Sheboygan. The specific areas eligible for this project are indicated in green on the map. View the Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Recipients Interactive Map here.
Other Links
- City of Sheboygan - Department of Public Works Tree Watering Pledge: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/924c1150d25b48eab75d093f5efd1892/
- Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Recipients Interactive Map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1b2817f764ae45f8850af15ae69cbda7
- Wisconsin DNR Forestry News: https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/2024/09/16/gov-evers-dnr-announce-inflation-reduction-act-urban-forestry-grant-recipients/
- Press Release “Gov. Evers, DNR Announce Inflation Reduction Act Urban Forestry Grant Recipients”: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3b35579
- Executive Order #221: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WIGOV/2024/04/19/file_attachments/2853306/EO221-TrillionTreesUpdate_unsigned.pdf