Funding Wizard

The health and vitality of our urban & community forests are critical to all our Nation’s Forests. Communities often act as gateways for invasive pests and disease, and well managed community forests, especially when a part of shared stewardship across the landscape, can slow or even halt the spread before they infect neighboring private, state or National forests. Our forests are also under threat from natural disasters including wildland fires, hurricanes, tornados, flooding and landslides. Well managed forests are better prepared to withstand these threats, protecting lives, infrastructure, homes, habitats, water quality, economies, and social health and well-being. To better equip our communities in preventing and responding to these threats, the U&CF program requests innovative proposals that strengthen urban and community forest resiliency and align with the goals in the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026). Collaborative solutions may include but are not limited to: research; prevention; planning; policy; preparedness; implementation; best management practices; recovery; and reforestation that promotes the resilience of our Nation’s urban & community forests. Urban and Community Forestry Program Requirements Innovative Forest Resiliency proposals shall have national or multi-state application and impact. A proposal’s content must meet the Urban and Community Forestry program authorities as designated by Congress in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, (Section 9 PDF, pp. 19-24) State & Private Cooperative Forestry Handbook of Programs and one or more of the goals in the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026) Available Funding: The U.S. Forest Service anticipates that the statutory authority (Sub Title 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act) for the Fiscal Year 2020 Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program may provide, approximately $900,000 in grant funds to be awarded through the 2020 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. Funds are to support national urban and community forestry projects on nonfederal public land that have a national or multi-state impact and application. All awards are based on the availability of funding, which may be subject to change. Eligible Applicants: Any U.S. Non-Federal and Tribal Organization, operating within the United States or its territories, may apply for the Challenge Cost-Share grant. While collaboration with Federal agencies is encouraged, a Federal agency may not receive funding or be used as match to the Federal funds being requested. Individuals and private land are not eligible. Proposals are required to address national, multi-state, or multi-tribal-land urban and community forestry issues. The Forest Service will address any conflicts of interest. Not Eligible: If an entity has a local/state tree-planting projects, capital improvements to property of any ownership, and/or projects that have only a local/single state impact and applicability are not eligible. Applicants with local proposals 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 at the bottom of the page: State Urban Foresters' Contact List Matching Requirements: All grant funds must be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non-Federal source funds. This match may include in-kind donations, volunteer assistance, and private and public (non-federal) monetary contributions. All matching funds must be directly related to the proposed project. The source of matching funds must be identified, and grantees must comply with all applicable Federal regulations. Applicant ID Numbers: All applicants are to include and ensure their DUNS and SAM's numbers are current and won't be expiring within the next 6-9 months. Inquiries: All questions regarding the program should be directed to Nancy Stremple, National Urban and Community Forestry Specialist, at nancy.stremple@usda.gov from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern) 2020 National Urban and Community Forestry Innovation Grant Category: Creating and Enhancing Resilient Urban and Community Forests: The USDA Forest Service seeks innovative (new, cutting-edge or builds upon existing studies) grant proposals for program development, study, and collaboration that will address urban and community forest resilience and aligns with one or more applicable goals in the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026). By clicking on the title link it will download the document for more detailed information about each category listed below. The applicant is to list the Goal(s) their proposal is addressing. 1. Integrate Urban and Community Forestry into All Scales of Planning (Page 26): 2. Promote the Role of Urban and Community Forestry in Human Health and Wellness (Page 33): 3. Cultivate Diversity, Equity and Leadership within the Urban Forestry Community (Page 42): 4. Strengthen Urban and Community Forest Health and Biodiversity for Long-Term Resilience (Page 50): 5. Improve Urban and Community Forest Management, Maintenance and Stewardship (Page 58): 6. Diversify, Leverage and Increase Funding for Urban and Community Forestry (Page 66): 7. Increase Public Awareness and Environmental Education to Promote Stewardship (Page 74): Research Goal D (Page 16): Research is needed to better understand and monitor current threats, to diminish tree loss, maintain urban forest health, and to sustain ecosystem services. Studies are needed to help anticipate emergent threats or negative conditions to enable proactive management response, as well as, social or policy studies that can help to reveal the institutional best practices that can be put in place for threat response and community engagement for forest sustainability and resiliency. Information on how to apply may be found on the following websites: Grant Application Website: (https://grants.urbanandcommunityforests.org) will have application information, how to download the application form, and submit the completed grant proposal package. Grants.gov Synopsis (Search: Opportunity: USDA-FS-UCF-01-2020, or CFDA, 10.675, Agency Forest Service). This will include the link to the grant application website where the grant proposal application can be down-loaded, and grant package uploaded. https://grants.urbanandcommunityforests.org USDA Forest Service UCF Website. This will include the link to the grant application website where the grant application can be down-loaded, and grant proposal package uploaded https://grants.urbanandcommunityforests.org All grant proposal application instructions, downloadable application forms, and grant package submissions are located on: https://grants.urbanandcommunityforests.org unless one does not have the capacity to use or have the availability of a computer. They may contact Nancy Stremple, National Urban Forestry Specialist nancy.stremple@usda.gov , 202 205-7829 for application information to be mailed to them. Application Deadlines: Proposals must be submitted to https://grants.urbanandcommunityforests.org or courier hard copies received by 11:59 PM Eastern, March 30, 2020. The USDA. Forest Service typically awards the successful projects as Federal Financial Assistance Grants no later than September 30, 2020. Successful applicants will receive formal notice of their grant award from the Forest Service grants and agreements official. Consequently, grantees may not begin their projects prior to official grant award notification. Hardcopy applicants will be required to utilize a courier service (i.e. FedEx, UPS, etc.) to send their application to the Forest Service’s National Urban and Community Forestry Specialist, Nancy Stremple. Hardcopy applications should be submitted on white 8.5” x 11” paper. Please do not enclose proposals in folders or binders (staple in the top, left hand corner of each copy) and do not include unsolicited material as it will be removed and destroyed. To apply by hardcopy, please use a courier service to send one hard copy and a copy on a disk to: Nancy Stremple, National Urban and Community Specialist USDA Forest Service 201 14th. St. SW, Sidney Yates Bldg. 3NW-03B Washington, D.C. 20024 nancy.stremple@usda.gov *Note: To ensure delivery, include both the mail stop (3NW-03B) number and the street address when addressing your package for shipment.

The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals for projects that will substantially expand and accelerate wood products and wood energy markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), Rural Revitalization Technologies (7 U.S.C. 6601), and the nationwide challenge of disposing of hazardous fuels and other wood residues from the National Forest System and other U.S. forest lands in a manner that supports wood products and wood energy markets. This Request for Proposals focuses on the Wood Innovations program goals: Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands. Reduce the costs of forest management on all land types. Promote economic and environmental health of communities. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: Completing requirements, such as architectural and engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary for 1) commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material, and 2) wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals and feasibility studies will not be competitive. Establishing or increasing wood products manufacturing capacity and/or markets that support forest ecosystem restoration Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in a constructed commercial building to increase acceptance and encourage growth in the construction industry. Establishing statewide wood utilization teams or statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing or former team will be considered. Current teams are found on this map (https://www.fs.usda.gov/naspf/sites/default/files/media_wysiwyg/swet_sw…). Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector; or installing a wood energy system at a facility (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing or industrial sector) that will use forest woody biomass or forest products manufacturing residues. Developing commercial wood biomass and wood product utilization industrial parks. Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the institutional, commercial, or industrial sectors. Implementing applied research projects that engage with or involve industry partners to resolve gaps in practical knowledge that can lead to readily applied advances in the wood products or wood energy market. Stationary wood energy equipment. All awards are based on funding availability. The Forest Service plans to award up to $8 million under this announcement. The maximum for each award is generally $250,000; however, the Forest Service may consider awarding more to a proposal that demonstrates the ability to have a significant and sizeable impact on wood product or energy markets. Applicants must contribute matching funds equal to at least 100% of the Forest Service requested funds. This means for every $1 of Federal funding requested applicants must provide at least $1 in match. For example, if the requested Federal amount is $100,000, the applicant match must be at least $100,000 or more. Applicant match must come from non-Federal sources. The match may include cash or in-kind contributions. All matching funds must be directly related to the proposed project. The Forest Service will hold an informational Pre-Application Webinar on this and another related grant opportunity on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to provide information and answer questions. The webinar can be accessed at: https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/wood-innovations/. To call in by phone, dial: 888-844-9904 and use access code 9780832. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility. The grants awarded under this announcement are authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S. Code § 8113) and intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. The Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following: Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities Improve forest health; and Stimulate local economies. This funding opportunity is intended for shovel ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas. Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility. Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures. Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce renewable natural gas or other biofuels from forest residues. All awards are based on funding availability. The Forest Service plans to award approximately $5 million in total awards under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment. Matching funds are not required; however leveraging is required. Applicants must contribute the remaining funds (leveraged funds) necessary to complete the project above and beyond the requested Forest Service funding. For example, if an applicant requests Forest Service funding for 35% of the total capital costs of the project, then the applicant must commit to providing 65% of the total capital costs of the project. In this example, the 65% of the total capital costs are considered the required leveraged funds. Even though leveraged funds have a lower reporting burden and fewer legal requirements than matching funds, applicants must adhere to requirements for leveraged funds. Leveraged funds must be from non-federal sources and be committed within the grant timeframe. Moreover, if third-party organizations contribute to the leveraged funds requirement, then applicants must submit with their proposal package commitment letters from the third-party organizations confirming the amount of leveraging being committed. The Forest Service will hold an informational pre-application webinar on this and another related grant opportunity on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to provide information and answer questions. The webinar can be accessed at: https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/wood-innovations/. To call in by phone, dial: 888-844-9904 and use access code 9780832. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. https://www.federalrelay.us/tty

The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program is to identify and conserve environmentally important forest areas threatened by conversion to nonforest uses, through conservation easements or fee simple purchase. The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a voluntary land conservation partnership which provides project acquisition grants to participating States through a competitive grant process. Projects are evaluated and prioritized by State lead agencies, in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees. All States and territories participate except North Dakota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. State priorities and eligible areas are identified by the participating states through the Forest Legacy Program Assessment of need requirements that are developed as part of the State Forest Action Plans. Projects are submitted to the Forest Service for consideration during a National project review process. Projects are evaluated and prioritized through criteria that evaluate; the ecological and economic importance, the degree of threat of conversion to nonforest use if it is not conserved, and the strategic importance and contribution to the objectives of strategic plans. Project readiness and other factors are also considered. The Program works with State partners and operates on a willing seller and willing buyer basis and is completely nonregulatory in its approach. No eminent domain authority or adverse condemnation is authorized for this Program. Landowner participation in the program is voluntary and consists of two components: (1) conveying land or interests in land to achieve land conservation objectives and (2) preparing and periodically updating a Forest Stewardship Management Plan or a multi-resource management plan, when the participation is through conservation easement. Grants must be cost-shared by at least 25% of nonfederal dollars. The non-Federal cost share may consist of: funds, donations, land or interests in land, in-kind contributions, direct costs, indirect costs, and others as determined by the Forest Service. The authority for the program is the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2101, et. seq., as amended by the 1990 Farm Bill, Section 1217 of Title XII of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, Public Law 101-624, 104 Stat. 3359, 16 U.S.C. 2103c; later amended by the 1996 Farm Bill, Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996; Public Law 104-127; Title III, Conservation; Subtitle G Forestry; Section 374, Optional State Grants for Forest Legacy Program. The Forest Legacy Program is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Additional Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy

The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program) of the Forest Service offers a unique opportunity for communities to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access and recreational opportunities, protect vital water supplies and wildlife habitat, serve as demonstration sites for private forest landowners, and provide economic benefits from timber and non-timber products. Please view the Community Forest Program Website to see the Request for Applications, Application Guidance, FAQs and other information about the Community Forest Program and how to apply. How the Community Forest Program Works US Forest Service (usda.gov)

The U.S. Forest Service supports Moving Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes as part of a conceptual framework for making strategic investments across landscapes to co-manage wildfire risk and achieve positive outcomes at the most appropriate scale. Within this framework, Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy Competitive Request for Applications is designed to support and carry out the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (NCS) across the Midwestern and Northeastern States as well as meet the intent of the current year budget direction. These national goals are: Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances in accordance with management objectives. Create Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property. Improve Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions.

The U.S. Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to: • Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forestlands. • Reduce costs of forest management on all land types. • Promote economic and environmental health of communities. The intent of the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support wood products markets and wood energy markets. Projects can include, but are not limited to: 1. Completing requirements, such as engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary, in the later stages of commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material and in the later stages of wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals will not be competitive. 2. Developing manufacturing capacity, other necessary wood products infrastructure, and markets for wood products that support forest ecosystem restoration. 3. Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in an actual commercial building and the projected benefits achieved if replicated across the United States based on commercial construction market trends. 4. Establishing statewide wood utilization teams and statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing (or former) team will be considered. 5. Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing sector, or industrial sector). 6. Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector. The Forest Service will hold an informational Pre-Application Webinar on this and another related grant opportunity on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 2:00p.m. Eastern Standard Time to provide information and answer questions. The link is usfs.adobeconnect.com/wood-innovations/. For audio, dial in by phone: 888-844-9904; use access code 9780832. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. https://www.federalrelay.us/tty/. Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Home page Instructions on how to apply for funding and the official application can be downloaded at the following weblinks. Request for Proposals and Instructions - Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity, Fiscal Year 2022 Application - Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity, Fiscal Year 2022

The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility. The grants awarded under this announcement are authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S. Code § 8113) and intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. The Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following: 1. Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities 2. Improve forest health; and 3. Stimulate local economies. This funding opportunity is intended for shovel ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: 1. Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas. 2. Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility. 3. Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures. 4. Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest residues. All awards are based on funding availability. The Forest Service plans to award up to $5 million in total awards under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment. Matching funds are not required; however, leveraging is required. Applicants must contribute the remaining funds (leveraged funds) necessary to complete the project above and beyond the requested Forest Service funding. For example, if an applicant requests Forest Service funding for 35% of the total capital costs of the project, then the applicant must commit to providing 65% of the total capital costs of the project. In this example, the 65% of the total capital costs are considered the required leveraged funds. Even though leveraged funds have a lower reporting burden and fewer legal requirements than matching funds, applicants must adhere to requirements for leveraged funds. Leveraged funds must be from non-federal sources and be committed within the grant timeframe. Moreover, if third-party organizations contribute to the leveraged funds requirement, then applicants must submit with their proposal package commitment letters from the third-party organizations confirming the amount of leveraging being committed. The Forest Service will hold an informational Pre-Application Webinar on this and another related grant opportunity on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to provide information and answer questions. The link is usfs.adobeconnect.com/wood-innovations/. For audio, dial in by phone: 888-844-9904; use access code 9780832. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. https://www.federalrelay.us/tty/. Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Home page Instructions on how to apply for funding and the official application can be downloaded at the following weblinks. Request for Proposals and Instructions - Community Wood Grant, Fiscal Year 2022 Application - Community Wood Grant, Fiscal Year 2022

To Apply On-line, Go to: https://ucfgrants2022.urbanandcommunityforests.org Proposals must meet the Urban and Community Forestry Program Authorities as designated by Congress in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, (Section 9 PDF, pp. 19-24) State & Private Cooperative Forestry Handbook of Programs and identity with Goal 7 -Strategy B of the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026). Partnership collaboration is required: Two or more related partners must be involved in these proposals and include formal letters of partnership. They may also include letters of support from other key stakeholders, as applicable. Available Funding: Aligns with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), the U.S. Forest Service may provide approximately $1,000,000 (Based on availability of funding, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.) Messaging is to be tested and adapted to other parts of the country to demonstrate its national applicability and successful response from focus audiences. Time Frame: Grants or Agreements are to be completed within 2 years. Matching Requirements: All grant funds are to be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non-federal match, which may include in-kind donations, volunteer assistance, and private and public (non-federal) monetary contributions. As this is a high priority, under special circumstances eligible applicants can have match requirements reduced with supporting justification in the application. Federal Agencies: Other Federal dollars or technical support may contribute to the project, but their contributions may not be used to match the Urban and Community Program dollars. - Federal Urban and Community Forestry Grant Dollars may not pay for any Federal employee salary, travel, or per diem, etc. - Federal partners must provide a letter of support stating their pro bono role in the project. Registration in System for Award Management (SAM): Please allow at least two (2) weeks to apply or renew this registration. All prospective awardees must be registered in SAM https://sam.gov/content/home If applicable, ensure all Indirect Cost Rates are current.

The Fiscal Year 2024 project selection process for the Forest Legacy Program will be competitive, merit-based adn coordinated by the Washington Office of the Forest Service. The Forest Legacy Program is funded through annual appropriations form the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The outcome of this process will be a ranked and prioritized list of FLP projects for consideration to be included in the President's Budget . Participating states can submit up to three projects, not to exceed a total of $20 million.