The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service announces the Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Grant Program. This program encourages local government and citizen involvement in creating and supporting long-term and sustained urban and community forestry projects and programs in cities, towns, counties and tribes. The USDA Forest Service, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Community Forestry Assistance Act of the 1990 Farm Bill, has allocated funding to DOF for statewide distribution.
Funding
DOF has two sources of funding for this grant opportunity. These include both matching and non-matching grants due to the influx of Inflation Reduction Act resources via the USDA Forest Service.
For matching grants, proposals will be accepted up to $50,000 (see matching opportunity in System Access Portal for Forestry Grants (SAP). Funds are available on a 50% of total project cost basis.
For non-matching grants funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, proposals will be accepted up to $200,000 (see match-free grants in System Access Portal for Forestry Grants). DOF reserves the right to reject and approve partial funding for any and all proposals. This is a reimbursement grant.
Project Categories
- Support for Local Government Programs
- Tree Maintenance and Invasive Plant Removal
- Workforce Development Programs
- Demonstration Projects
- Extreme Heat Mitigation
- Nonprofit Organization Support
- Planning and Education and more
We don’t fund research, purchase of machinery, equipment or construction.
Who is Eligible
Funds may be awarded to units of local governments (city, town, county), nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, or educational institutions. Other organizations, such as volunteer groups, neighborhood associations or civic groups which are not 501(c)3 are eligible but must apply in partnership with a nonprofit organization or with their local government. All applicants applying for a federally-funded award must have BOTH a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
To Apply
ACTION REQUIRED TO RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FROM DOF:
Previously, the federal government used the DUNS number to manage entities applying for grants. In April 2022, the federal government replaced DUNS with the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Existing grant recipients and new applicants must obtain a UEI to apply for funding going forward.
To get your UEI, register with SAM.gov. If you are already registered, your UEI has been assigned. Follow this guide to find your UEI. Additional support can be found here.
Don’t wait for the grant cycle, get your UEI now.
View the Request for Application for full grant details and deadlines (available in the Resource Library below).
Applications are accepted via the System Access Portal for Forestry Grants.
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants
View the user guide provided in the Resource Library below for help with registering for an account and submitting an application.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Forestry Grant Program -Time and Activity Log for Staff and Volunteers | 3.26 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance urb urban-and-community-forestry | form | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Agreement Signing | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with agreement signing. | User Guide | View | finance financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management urb fire-and-emergency-response forest-management urban-and-community-forestry | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Filing a Claim | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with filing a claim. | User Guide | View | finance financial-assistance | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Registration User Guide | System Access Portal User Guide for registering to use the grants system. | User Guide | View | financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response urb finance fire-and-emergency-response urban-and-community-forestry | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Requesting an Agreement Modification | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with requesting an agreement modification. | User Guide | View | finance financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management urb fire-and-emergency-response forest-management urban-and-community-forestry | user-guide | |
 | System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program | System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. | User Guide | View | urb urban-and-community-forestry | user-guide | |
 | Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program – Request for Application | Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program – Request for Application document details the program and proposal requirements as well as deadlines and submission information. | Document | View | urb urban-and-community-forestry | document | |
 | Virginia Department of Forestry Grants – Frequently Asked Questions | Document answers the most common questions asked about forestry grants, including application requirements, qualifying expenses, reimbursements and other how do I… questions. | Document | View | finance financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response urb fire-and-emergency-response urban-and-community-forestry | document |
A variety of financial assistance programs exist through DOF and partner agencies for community forestry and forest management activities.
Explore All Financial Assistance Programs
Contact Us
For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.
Disclaimer
This program was funded in whole or partly through an Urban and Community Forestry Grant awarded by the Southern Region, State and Private Forestry, USDA Forest Service, and administered by the Virginia Department of Forestry. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to the USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.