Colorado Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program

The Colorado Urban and Community Forestry grant program is administered by the Colorado State Forest Service, a state-level agency that operates with funding support from the USDA Forest Service. Established in 2024, the program reflects a coordinated effort to strengthen urban forestry across Colorado by addressing environmental, public safety, and community resilience challenges. The program is designed to support both immediate and long-term improvements to urban and community forests through strategic investments in tree care, planting, and management. It builds on federal priorities while tailoring implementation to the specific ecological and community conditions within Colorado. The primary purpose of the grant program is to increase and diversify the urban tree canopy while improving forest health and resilience. Funded projects are expected to support a range of activities including tree planting, removal of hazardous or dead trees, pruning, inventory development, and long-term forest management planning. Additional goals include supporting community engagement, developing local workforce capacity, addressing pest and disease impacts such as emerald ash borer and mountain pine beetle, and reducing wildfire risks through vegetation management. The program also emphasizes sustainable practices, including improving long-term tree survival and promoting responsible urban wood utilization. Funding for the 2026 grant cycle totals 700000 dollars, with individual awards structured across two tiers ranging from 50000 to 200000 dollars depending on project scope. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, meaning recipients must initially cover costs and then request reimbursement periodically. Administrative costs are capped at 10 percent of the total grant budget. Projects funded through this cycle must be completed by December 31, 2028, establishing a multi-year performance window for implementation and reporting. There is no stated matching requirement, but applicants must demonstrate the capacity to manage funds effectively and meet reporting obligations. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations and local government entities, including municipalities, counties, cities, schools, and tribal agencies or programs. Applicants must either serve as the fiscal agent or designate one, and nonprofit organizations must be registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State. Additionally, all applicants must maintain an active System for Award Management registration with a valid Unique Entity Identifier throughout the application and grant period. Organizations that have previously received funding may reapply, provided they have successfully met prior grant requirements and demonstrated responsible grant management. The application process requires submission of a complete application form along with a detailed budget form. Applicants may choose between submitting via an online Jot Form or a downloadable PDF application, both of which require the same information. The application includes detailed narrative components covering project design, organizational capacity, anticipated outcomes, implementation plans, timelines, and long-term sustainability strategies. Evaluation is conducted through a point-based scoring system that assesses criteria such as urban forest conditions, measurable outcomes, implementation feasibility, and alignment with priority emphasis areas. Projects that serve communities with less than 20 percent tree canopy cover receive priority consideration. The timeline for the 2026 grant cycle begins with the application opening on July 21, 2026, and closing on September 21, 2026. Award announcements are expected on October 30, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow for preliminary review and correction of major errors before the deadline. Once awarded, grantees must adhere to reporting requirements, including reimbursement requests and project progress updates, and may be subject to audit by the USDA Forest Service after the grant period concludes. The program is expected to recur annually, with future cycles continuing to build on the established framework and goals.

Emphasize measurable outcomes and clearly quantified impacts; prioritize projects in communities with less than 20 percent canopy cover; ensure detailed seasonal implementation planning and long term sustainability; align project with multiple priority emphasis areas to maximize scoring