Community Forestry Grant Program

The Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Grants program is designed to support sustainable urban and community forestry efforts across Texas. This program stems from the agency's mission to conserve, protect, and enhance Texas’ natural resources and land, particularly through its Urban and Community Forestry Program. The grants are made possible by funding from the USDA Forest Service and aim to assist public and nonprofit entities in developing and implementing projects that foster healthy, resilient, and accessible urban forests for all Texans. The 2026 Community Forestry Grants program offers over $1.2 million in funding, distributed across six distinct grant categories: Community Resiliency, Human Health Improvement and Access, Municipal Forester, Workforce Development, Tree Planting, and Watershed Protection Implementation. Each category addresses a unique set of challenges and opportunities within urban forestry. For example, the Community Resiliency category targets species vulnerability and environmental stress in low-canopy areas, while the Municipal Forester category helps fund new forester positions in municipalities that have never had such a role. The Tree Planting category emphasizes increasing urban tree canopy in areas most impacted by heat islands, air pollution, and limited greenspace access. Applicants may include local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations (501c3), public utility districts, tribal entities, and community-based organizations. Entities such as volunteer groups or associations that are not 501(c)(3) organizations may apply through partnerships with eligible applicants. All projects must take place on publicly owned land in Texas and must be new initiatives, not continuations of existing funded work. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov and a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS. The grants are reimbursement-based and require a 1:1 match in funds, which may be met through local cash contributions or in-kind donations. Grant funds cannot be used to purchase equipment over $5,000 but can cover rentals and contracted services. Applications must outline a detailed budget, specifying how federal and local funds will be used and sourced. For categories like Tree Planting and Watershed Protection, proposals must include maps, location details, and in some cases adherence to planting standards (Appendix A) or watershed protection frameworks. Each grant category has specific deliverables, allowable uses, and evaluation priorities tied to the Texas Forest Action Plan. The application process opened on December 1, 2025, and will close on March 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Central Time. Applications must be submitted via Survey123, and cannot be saved mid-progress. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their responses in the provided Application Worksheet PDFs beforehand. Application worksheets and additional guidance, including best practices, are available on the Texas A&M Forest Service website. A webinar was held on December 12, 2025, and virtual office hours were offered on January 8 and 15, 2026. Awards will be announced in May 2026. Most projects must be completed within one year of the signed agreement, with the exception of the Municipal Forester grant, which has a three-year performance period. Contact information is provided for those seeking assistance with project development or application preparation. Michelle Moore ([email protected], 979-639-8184) and Cateri Dixon ([email protected], 979-458-3151) serve as primary contacts for inquiries. All resources, including the application forms, guidance, and contact directory, are centralized at the Community Forestry Grants webpage. Applicants are encouraged to leverage these supports to ensure their proposals are competitive, impactful, and aligned with state forestry priorities.