Urban and Community Forestry Program Grants

The Virginia Department of Forestry, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, administers the Urban and Community Forestry Program Grants to support the protection and enhancement of urban and community forest ecosystems in Virginia. Federal support includes resources associated with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Urban and Community Forestry program authorized through federal forestry legislation. The Virginia Department of Forestry distributes and administers the funds in support of state and federal priorities. Program objectives include integrating urban and community forestry into planning, promoting its role in human health and wellness, strengthening community forest health and biodiversity, improving forest management and stewardship, and increasing public awareness and environmental education. Funding available for this cycle totals $643,500, and proposals may request up to $50,000. There is no matching requirement. Eligible activities span seven program categories. Supported activities include local government urban forestry staffing, tree maintenance, invasive plant removal, fuels mitigation, tree inventories, urban forest master or management plans, publications and communications, municipal tree restoration, community gravel beds, asphalt removal and planting, outdoor learning spaces, nonprofit organization staffing, greenway and trail development planning, urban forestry and arboriculture workforce development, and other projects that meet program objectives. Reasonable indirect expenses are allowable. The program is intended to support new initiatives, programs, projects, staff positions, or activities that are not currently funded through other sources. Ineligible expenses include machinery or equipment purchases, construction, food and beverages, land purchases or land charges, invasive plant material, costs incurred outside the approved period of performance, costs not approved by the program manager during award or grant modification, undocumented expenses, grant preparation expenses, computers, and research expenses. Additional requirements apply to certain project types. Tree maintenance must occur on public lands, removed trees require one-for-one replacement, and pruning must be performed or supervised by an ISA Certified Arborist and follow the specified ANSI standards. Invasive plant removal and fuels mitigation removals must occur on public lands. Potential contractors cannot be named in an application; doing so will result in cancellation of the application. Eligible applicants include units of local government, specifically cities, towns, and counties, as well as nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, and educational institutions. Volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, and civic groups that are not 501(c)(3) organizations may participate but must apply in partnership with a nonprofit organization or their local government. Applicants for federally funded awards must have both a Federal Employer Identification Number and a Unique Entity Identifier and must be eligible to receive federal funds. Selected organizations will undergo a risk assessment addressing matters such as prior performance, audits or site visits, personnel or internal-control changes, federal monitoring, debarment, suspension, and federal debt. High-risk subrecipients may receive awards subject to additional conditions. Applications must be submitted through the Virginia Department of Forestry System Access Portal. Applicants are required to read the department's grant administration FAQ before applying and must have an active portal account. The application requests short responses of up to 2,000 characters covering Brief Description of Project, Activities/Scope of Work, Cooperation and Partnerships, Community Improvement, Educational Benefits and Engagement, End-Product/Deliverables, Organizational Experience, Administration, Project Timeline, Readiness to Begin Work, and Project Budget. Budget categories include Personnel, Fringe, Travel, Supplies, Contractual, and Other Expenses. A Virginia W9 is required as attached documentation. All applications must be submitted online by 9 p.m. EDT on August 19, 2026. Applications are competitively evaluated by Virginia Department of Forestry staff and industry professionals, with at least three reviewers scoring each application. The 100-point scoring system assigns 20 points to measurable goals and objectives, 20 points to budget feasibility, 15 points to cooperation and partnerships, 15 points to community impact and benefits, 20 points to the comprehensive project plan, and 10 points to readiness and timeline. Applications must achieve an average score of at least 60 points to be considered fundable, and the highest mean scores will be recommended until available funding is exhausted. Applicants will be formally notified of the outcome by October 1, 2026. Award agreements are to be signed within 20 days, and approved projects may begin only after the agreement is fully executed. Subrecipients may receive up to 18 months to complete their projects, with projects extending no later than February 29, 2028. Payments are made on a reimbursement basis after adequate supporting documentation is submitted, and a final program report is required before final claims are approved. All grantees must attend virtual training on the System Access Portal and federal grant requirements after awards are announced. Records supporting allowable project costs must be retained for three years following the applicable end of the performance period or final payment requirements stated by the program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss potential projects with the Virginia Department of Forestry before submission. The primary program contact is Lara Johnson, Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager, at 804-912-6462 or lara.johnson@dof.virginia.gov. Molly O'Liddy, Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator, may also be contacted at 434-962-0297 or molly.oliddy@dof.virginia.gov. The RFA does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule, so no future recurring cycle is assumed.

Define clear measurable goals aligned with DOF priorities; provide specific metrics and targets; present a clear realistic and cost-effective budget; demonstrate cooperation, partnerships, volunteers, and community engagement; explain broad community improvement and educational, environmental, and public relations benefits; provide a comprehensive site-specific project plan with maps, milestones, appropriate species or treatments, maintenance responsibilities, tree-care protocols, equipment and materials, and success methods; demonstrate readiness to begin within 30-60 days of award; maintain strong 2 CFR 200 administrative and financial controls; do not name potential contractors in the application.