The Iowa Legislature recently appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for use in community-based tree planting programs in areas impacted by the Aug. 10, 2020 derecho. The Derecho Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to be used for the purchase and planting of trees suitable to Iowa on publicly owned lands. These areas include, but are not limited to, rights-of-way, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and trails. Award recipients are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match for the purchase of trees and materials from Iowa businesses. The total amount of matching funds to be made available to local governments, schools and services organization in the 27 Iowa counties included in the Governor’s Derecho Disaster proclamation will be $250,000. Locally, eligible counties include: Audubon, Greene and Guthrie. Applications are due by Friday, Aug. 20. A link to the application and additional information the grant program can be found below.
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Link to application and additional information: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/forms/5420219.pdf