U.S. Forest Service: Urban and Community Forestry National Grant Program - 2009 Special Focus Grant: Outreach CFDA 10.675

The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (Council) serves to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the status of the nation’s urban and community forests. The Council seeks to establish sustainable urban and community forests, by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources. Well managed urban forests provide critical environmental services that can improve the public’s health, and well being; economic viability and restore functioning environmental systems for people today and future generations. Through the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry competitive Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program, the Council only supports urban and community forestry projects that have national or multi-state, significance in their impact or application. Applications are due by June 5, 2009.


A listing of the previously funded projects can be viewed at http://www.treelink.org/nucfac/ OR www.fs.fed.us/ucf/nucfac Definition of Urban and Community Forestry: The art, science, and technology of managing trees, forests, and natural systems in and around cities, suburbs, and towns for the health and well-being of all people. Outreach Grant Category: This special focus grant will focus on funding up to $100,000 for projects that provide scholarships to non traditional / underserved participants.

Goal: Support and encourage the expansion of partnerships with non-traditional partners by providing broad, sustained educational opportunities with urban and community forestry issues.

Priority: Increase and strengthen urban forestry collaboration and partnerships by engaging non-traditional partners, individuals and organizations that have an important stake in urban forestry, but may not be involved in day-to-day community forest management. This is to be a sustained educational experience that will broaden their investment and participation in urban and community forestry beyond the scholarship sponsored event.

Description: NUCFAC recognizes the importance of engaging a broader, larger and more diverse group of constituencies in urban and community forestry programs and education. For the purposes of this Request for Proposals (RFP), the Council is interpreting non-traditional partners as minority and underserved populations, representatives of professional perspectives whose work impacts urban and community forestry, but may not be consistently represented in urban and community forestry educational opportunities and policy discussions.

Eligible Applicant Examples Include But Are Not Limited To: Educators, green industry professionals outside of arboriculture and forestry, public health professionals, public works professionals, local government representatives and other professions that have an impact on urban and community forestry. Conference hosts organizations may apply for scholarships for non-traditional partners to attend urban forestry conferences or other appropriate training opportunities. Organizations are also encouraged to apply for funding to engage non-traditional partners in educational opportunities presented by other organizations.

Additional Information on Eligibility:
Eligible Applicants: Any non-Federal organization, operating within the United States or its territories, may apply for the Challenge Cost-Share grant. Collaboration with Federal agencies is encouraged; however, a Federal agency may not receive funding through this grant program. (Conflict of interest issues will be addressed appropriately.) Individuals are not eligible. Note: Projects that have only a local impact and applicability will not be considered for funding. Urban and community forestry projects with a local scope of work should contact their State Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator for assistance in identifying funding alternatives at the local level. The list of State Coordinators may be found at the following website: http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/Related_Links/UCF_State_coordinators.htm.

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-FS-UCF-01-2009
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Mar 25, 2009
Creation Date: Mar 25, 2009
Original Closing Date for Applications: Jun 05, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jun 05, 2009
Archive Date: Jul 05, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Education
Environment
Natural Resources
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 5
Estimated Total Program Funding: $100,000
Award Ceiling: $100,000
Award Floor: $1
CFDA Number(s): 10.675 -- Urban and Community Forestry Program
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

National Urban and Community Forestry Website