Urban Forestry Grants Awarded to Tennessee Communities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Phil Bredesen and state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens today announced nearly $115,000 in grants to 15 cities and communities across Tennessee for the purpose of assisting with urban forestry management.      

 

 

“Our urban forests are an important resource and, managed properly, can help reduce heat buildup, control storm water and improve the quality of life in our urban environment,” said Bredesen.  “This program is making a difference by helping our cities and communities maximize the benefit of this vital and often underutilized resource.”

The grants were approved after a review by state urban forestry officials and the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council grant review committee.  Urban forestry grants are used by cities, communities and non-profit organizations for projects such as hiring urban foresters, conducting educational programs and tree inventories or for tree plantings. 

Urban Forestry is a USDA Forest Service funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Division of Forestry to help local governments and organizations better manage their urban forest resources.  Properly managed trees in urban environments can aid economic development efforts and help with air quality, heat island effect, storm water retention, water quality and aesthetics. 

“Tennessee is a forested state and this natural resource is just as important to our developed areas as it is to our countryside,” said Givens.  “We’re glad to provide these grants to improve urban forestry management in communities across the state.”

Since 1991, the TDA Division of Forestry has distributed more than $4 million in federal funding for urban forestry projects. 

The Urban Forestry program is supported at the federal level by Tennessee’s congressional delegation and local grants are supported by the Tennessee General Assembly.

2007 Tennessee Urban Forestry Grants
 
Bells’ Garden Club -            $1,000 for development of an arboretum brochure.

Bristol -                                  $5,000 for inventory, tree planting, and equipment purchases.

Clarksville -                           $16,000 for the continuation of inventory and management plan development.

Columbia Friends of the

Duck River Walk -                 $9,300 for public forums on trees and urban forestry, tree planting, and beginning tree inventory.

Jackson Tree Board -          $6,900 for arboretum tree identification and to purchase tree management software.

Johnson City -                       $11,000 for tree inventory and management plan update.

Johnson City Housing

Authority -                              $5,000 for tree planting.

Lakeland -                              $8,761 for continued funding of urban forestry position.

Newbern -                              $12,500 for park vegetation management and tree planting.

Parsons -                               $3,000 for tree planting.

Sweetwater -                         $20,000 for Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan, tree planting, brochure development, and state conference participation.

Tullahoma -                            $1,000 to purchase software to support tree inventory and management plan.

Walters State Community

College -                                $7,400 for tree planting and arboretum tree identification.

Vollintine-Evergreen

Community Association

Of Memphis -                         $2,993 for tree planting.