$250,000 AVAILABLE FOR TREE PLANTING AND TREE CARE PROJECTS
Sacramento, CA, May 21st – California ReLeaf unveiled its new grants program today that will provide more than $250,000 to community-based groups and other organizations throughout California for urban forestry projects. California ReLeaf’s 2012 Urban Forestry and Education Grants Program is funded through contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) and Region IX of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Eligible applicants include incorporated nonprofit organizations and unincorporated community-based groups, with a financial sponsor, located in California. Individual funding requests range from $1,000 to $10,000. Applicants may submit one proposal that utilizes either tree planting or tree care projects as the foundation for increasing awareness and stewardship of urban forests among program participants. Grants will be used to cover a variety costs associated with carrying out these projects.
“ReLeaf is proud to design and administer a program that joins the need for increased environmental education about the value of our urban forests with the hand-on approach of enhancing or preserving these resources,” said Executive Director Joe Liszewski. “Since 1992, we have invested more than $9 million in urban forestry efforts geared towards cleaning our air and water, creating green jobs, building community pride, and beautifying our Golden State.”
California ReLeaf’s mission is to empower grassroots efforts and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect, and enhance California’s urban and community forests. Working statewide, we promote alliances among community-based groups, individuals, industry, and government agencies, encouraging each to contribute to the livability of our cities and the protection of our environment by planting and caring for trees.
Proposals must be postmarked by July 20th, 2012. Grant recipients will have until March 15th, 2013 to complete their project. The guidelines and application are available online at www.californiareleaf.org/programs/grants. For questions, or to request a hard copy, please contact California ReLeaf’s grants program manager at cmills@californiareleaf.org, or call (916) 497-0035.