Cuyahoga County has issued its request for proposals (RFP) for municipalities and nonprofit organizations to apply for funding through the Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant Program.

All potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their materials by Friday, February 26, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

Apply for the Grant Program

Twenty-six projects were awarded to municipalities and nonprofits in the first round of funding. Most of these projects supported tree planning and the hiring of arborists, which was a first for many municipalities.

This second round of funding builds off the momentum many communities have by allowing for the planting of thousands of trees. Implementation Projects, which include the physical planting of trees, will cover 75% of grant funds. This innovative grant achieves the County’s goal to revitalize the tree canopy through annual contributions of $1 million for five years.

The County’s 2019 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment shows 371,000 acres are available for tree canopy.

While competitive grant applications will be evaluated based on a variety of factors, a community’s Vulnerability Assessment will be considered when providing funding. The Vulnerability Assessment Map shows the physical and social factors that make communities more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This aligns with the County’s ongoing work to enhance racial equity through multiple avenues across the County.

“Communities have set the stage for thousands of additional trees to be planted this year,” said Mike Foley, Director of the Department of Sustainability. “With these funds, municipalities can keep putting in the work to revitalize and expand their existing tree canopies through planting and implementation.”

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