California Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act

Purpose: To help create sustainable urban forests across the state, $30.8 million in funding will be available to support urban and community forestry projects in historically disinvested urban communities throughout California. The Inflation Reduction Act supports urban and community forestry investments that foster: 1) Increased and equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities. 2) Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning, tree planting, and management activities. 3) Improved community and urban forest resilience to climate change, extreme heat, forest pests and diseases, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices. There are six grant options available: Urban Forest Expansion and Improvement, Urban Forest Management Activities, Urban Forestry Education and Workforce Development, Urban Forestry Regional or Statewide Impact, Urban Forest Equity Capacity Building, and Green Schoolyards. Projects must directly serve priority populations within one or more defined disadvantaged and/or low-income community in an urban area. In California, CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is administering this federal grant funding. Eligible Applicants: Local government entities: cities, counties, or qualifying districts. ​For Green Schoolyards: school districts and community college districts​.Federally Recognized Tribes: 25 USC 5304 (l), operating within California.Tribal-affiliated non-profit organizations: Section 501c(3) of the IRC.Non-profit organizations: Section 501c(3) of the IRC. ​For Green Schoolyards, includes non-profit childcare facilities receiving government funding. Eligible Geographies: The project area must be in an "urban area" or "urban cluster," defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce as areas with a population of 2,500 or more persons. 100% of the funds awarded through this grant opportunity must be spent on projects within urban Priority Populations, which include state-designated disadvantaged communities (DAC), low-income communities (LIC), and/or low-income households (LIH). Matching Funding: For the CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry IRA grant opportunity, match or cost share requirements are waived.

• PSCDisadvantaged Communities, Employment, Labor & Training, Environment & Water

• Grant guidelines

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  rachel.oleary@fire.ca.gov