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  • NEWSROOM: TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE AWARDS HISTORIC $15.4 MILLION THROUGH FORESTRY GRANT PROGRAM

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    April 10, 2024

    Texas A&M Forest Service awards historic $15.4 million through forestry grant program

    COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Twenty-two Texas cities, neighborhoods, non-profit organizations and schools received grant funding through the Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Grants Program, totaling $15.4 million. 

    The grants will directly fund recipients’ tree planting, maintenance and community forestry planning and education efforts as part of their larger, unique urban forestry solution campaigns. The program also places a key emphasis on increasing schoolyard tree canopy coverage to 30% of a school’s campus to create accessible community treescapes. 

    “We are overjoyed with the number of communities receiving grants this year,” said Gretchen Riley, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Systems Department Head. “We received many wonderful grant applications that meet several urban forestry needs. Beyond applications, organizations and communities across the state expressed interest in learning more about how to advance community forestry. These applications are a testament to the demand for a program such as this.” 

    The goal of the Community Forestry Grants program is to build healthier urban and community forests throughout the state which are essential for the economic, environmental, physical and mental well-being of all Texans. The strategy of these grants is to spearhead local programs across the state in addressing nature-based solutions to issues facing communities today.  

    “The impact that trees have on our mental and physical health is astounding,” said Riley. “Coordinating with schools across the state to focus efforts on increasing tree coverage at schools will positively impact the mental and physical health of students as well as provide them with hands-on forestry education and appreciation.” 

    The 2024 Community Forestry Grants Program awarded grants for eight categories.  

    Awarded in the category of climate resiliency was Ecology Action of Texas, Austin, $50,000. 

    Awarded in the category of geospatial analysis was Texas Trees Foundation, Dallas, for a statewide project, $550,000. 

    Awarded in the category of human health equity and accessibility was city of Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department, $50,000. 

    Awarded in the category of municipal forester was city of Duncanville, $100,000. 

    Awarded in the category of schoolyard forests was city of McAllen, $2,730,000; city of Pharr, $3,120,000; Rio Grande International Study Center, Laredo, $3,120,000; and Texas Trees Foundation, Dallas, for projects in Donna and Mercedes, $5,460,000. 

    Awarded in the category of Tree City USA was city of Ennis Parks and Recreation, $10,000; city of Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department, $10,000; and town of Flower Mound, $10,000.  

    Awarded in the tree planting category was Alief Super Neighborhood Council #25, Houston, $20,000; city of Denton, $20,000; city of Kaufman, $16,200; city of Laredo Environmental Services, $16,000; city of McAllen Parks and Recreation Department, $15,000; city of North Richland Hills, $20,000; city of Socorro, $14,374; Eco El Paso, LLC, El Paso, $20,000; and Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation Inc, Lubbock, $20,000.  

    Grant recipients will receive funding and begin their initiatives in June 2024.  

    The Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Grants program was established in 2022 to address Texas communities’ needs for urban forestry investment. Previous recipients of this grant include city of College Station and Bexar Branches Alliance, a San Antonio non-profit.  

    Funding for the grants program is provided through federal and state funding and was significantly increased from $100,000 in 2022 to $16.65 million in 2023, in part due to the USDA Forest Service and the Inflation Reduction Act.  

    “These grants are critical to communities and organizations throughout the state in continuing proactive forestry practices,” said Al Davis, Texas A&M Forest Service Director. “By investing in our communities today, we are ensuring healthy forests and communities for all to benefit from.”    

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    Contacts:

    Gretchen Riley, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Systems Department Head, (979) 458-6663, griley@tfs.tamu.edu

    Kate Faris, Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Grants Specialist, (979) 458-6630, kate.faris@tfs.tamu.edu

    Texas A&M Forest Service Communications, (979) 458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu  


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