Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program 2024

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is offering grants to promote urban forestry activities in disadvantaged communities within the District of Columbia. This program aligns with the broader mission of enhancing urban environments and improving community well-being through nature-based solutions. The grants are designed to support a wide range of activities authorized by the USFS Urban and Community Forestry Program, ensuring a comprehensive approach to urban forest development and stewardship. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are disadvantaged communities within the District of Columbia. The program specifically targets areas that have been historically overburdened and under-resourced, aiming to address environmental inequities. The impact goals include promoting urban wood utilization, establishing urban food forests, mitigating extreme heat, fostering urban forest stewardship, improving access to green spaces, and developing a skilled workforce in urban forestry. Additionally, the program seeks to deliver nature-based interventions such as forest therapy, urban forest interpretation, and environmental education to these communities. The priorities and focuses of this grant include supporting activities that promote urban forestry through various means. This encompasses physical interventions like creating urban food forests and mitigating heat, as well as educational and engagement initiatives such as environmental education and forest therapy. The program emphasizes workforce development within urban forestry, aiming to build local capacity and create economic opportunities in disadvantaged areas. Eligible applicants include local government, non-governmental, and community-based organizations, highlighting a collaborative approach to achieving the program's objectives. Expected outcomes of this grant program include a noticeable increase in urban forestry activities and green infrastructure within disadvantaged communities. Measurable results will include the number of urban wood utilization projects, the establishment of new urban food forests, the extent of extreme heat mitigation achieved, the level of community engagement in urban forest stewardship, and the number of individuals trained through workforce development programs. Ultimately, the program aims to improve environmental quality, enhance community health and well-being, and foster a greater connection to nature in areas that need it most.