Community forestry

DNR forester and landowner walking in landowner's woodlands

Empower your community with a thriving tree canopy through DNR urban community forestry grants. The 2023 Legislature provided over $25 million in grant funding that will be rolled out over the next few years to create resilient urban forests and encourage the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources.

Applications are currently closed, but please check back this summer for the next round of funding.

2023 Grants

There were two great opportunities in 2023 with over $16 million in eligible funding. Both grants were open to tribal governments and local units of government, which are cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers boards, and towns. Parks and recreation boards in cities of the first class are also eligible to apply. The ReLeaf grant was also open to nonprofit organizations. Click the link below for information specific to the grant. Eligible applicants were encouraged to apply for both grants! Grant requirements are similar to make dual application easier. However, please contact us if you have questions: [email protected]

Applicants could request a maximum of $500,000 in funding from each grant. There was no minimum request or matching funds requirement, making these grants accessible to a wide range of organizations and municipalities.

  • ReLeaf community forestry grants, 2023-2027 - $6.883 million in grants for local units of government and non-profit organizations in Minnesota that encourage and promote the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, treatment, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources to enhance community forest health and sustainability, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and promote energy conservation.
    Deadline: September 18, 2023.
  • Shade tree bonding grants, 2023-2027 – $10.063 million in grants for local units of government in Minnesota that are planning to replace trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm, or to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests.
    Deadline: October 2, 2023.

Visit our grant recipient page to see which communities have been awarded grants.

Past grants

Resources for communities
Partners

Back to top