The recent Inflation Reduction Act is an unprecedented investment in community forestry. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program recently awarded 1.875 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant funding to the Nebraska Forest Service (NFS).
This program's goal is to help improve community forestry in disadvantaged communities.
- Increased and equitable access to the urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental, and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities;
- Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning;
- Improved resilience to climate change, pests, and storm events through best management and maintenance practices and;
- Improve heat resiliency
How Funding Works
In 2024, a pool of $100,000 will be available to communities with 8,000 or smaller populations—awards of $2,000 (minimum) to $25,000 (maximum). NFS intends to award all these funds in this round of funding. Another round of IRA funding through NFS isn't anticipated.
Will additional funds be available? Yes. Our partner, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, was awarded a 10 million IRA grant for work in disadvantaged communities. If you would like to be on their notification list for when funding becomes available, please visit plantnebraska.org
How to Apply
Get prepared by reading this guide and then completing the online application. Complete and submit your application by May 15th, 2024. Don't hesitate to contact Christina Hoyt at 402-472-5049, choyt2@unl.edu .
Documents Necessary for Application
- Nebraska IRA RFP PDF (includes program description and eligibility, IRA map directions, application instructions, rubric)
- IRA Application PDF
- IRA Budget Template Excel Doc
- Tree Maintenance Plan Template PDF
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES*
100% of the work must be completed within the geographical footprint of disadvantaged communities as identified by the US Forest Service. You can find designated tracts in the Nebraska Forest Service IRA tool. Directions for using the tool are found in Appendix B.
*This document refers to Disadvantaged Communities because this is the terminology used by the federal government. However, it could be considered deficit-based language, when many of these areas are some of our most culturally diverse, vibrant communities in Nebraska. It's important to recognize the strength, resilience, and assets all communities contribute to Nebraska's culture, economic systems, landscape, and vitality.
Nebraska Disadvantaged Community IRA map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/c8b2cc1eb34e4a67a343cf3f214fae97/