The Colorado Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Grant Program was established by the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) using funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. This initiative is designed to increase tree canopy cover in disadvantaged communities across Colorado, in alignment with the federal Justice40 Initiative. The program is funded over a three-year period, with $1.6 million allocated for projects in its first year.
The grant program prioritizes capacity building and community engagement to enhance urban forestry in areas identified as disproportionately impacted (DI) through the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. Eligible projects must take place within or adjacent to DI areas and may include activities such as:
Tree planting, pruning, removal, and watering
Irrigation installation
Urban forest management planning
Community capacity building efforts
Tree inventories
Green career development initiatives
Urban wood utilization projects
In the 2024 grant cycle, $1.6 million was awarded to 11 projects across eight counties in Colorado, focusing on tree equity, canopy expansion, tree revitalization, and other urban forestry improvements. Examples include the South Alamosa Tree Equity Project, Brighton's Equitable Expansion of Tree Canopy (BEET), and the Longmont Urban Forest Resiliency Project.
It is important to stay informed about the opening of the application period and any updates to the program’s requirements.
