N.C. Forest Service - Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program: Professional Staff Development Assistance Grant

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Note:
The N.C. Forest Service - Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program includes the following Financial Assistance Packages: 1) Climb to Tree City USA Package (Consolidated Program Grant (CPG); Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)); 2) Climb to Managing Community Package (Consolidated Program Grant (CPG); Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)); 3) Tree Maintenance and Planting Packages: i) Tree maintenance and planting project (Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)) and ii) Bad Tree Bounty Project); 4) Professional Staff Development Assistance; 5) N.C. Arbor Day Celebration Assistance; 6) Special Projects: Climb to Tree City USA Services (Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)).
Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis during the application period until the application closes.
N.C. Forest Service - Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program
The goal of the North Carolina Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program is to help municipalities reach a level of sustainable U&CF management that matches their goals and capacity. We define urban and community forestry as follows:
Urban forestry is defined as the management of the planting, maintenance and protection of tree populations in urban settings to enhance the economic and ecosystem services trees provide to the community.
Community forestry is a branch of forestry that engages the community in the completion of urban forestry practices in support of local government, serves broader community needs and works for positive change.
When municipalities and partners accomplish urban and community forestry practices and activities in an ordered manner, they enhance the level of management in the community, leading to sustainable program success.
We use the accomplishment of six specific standards to measure and classify the development status of a community’s U&CF program into one of four management classifications. This helps a community measure its progress, celebrate accomplishments, and allows us to best serve each community’s individual needs.
The Urban and Community Forestry Project Financial Assistance Program is designed to help communities climb this sustainable management hierarchy. The program accomplishes this by providing financial assistance and guidance in the development and completion of U&CF projects comprised of urban and community forestry practices and activities. A Request for Applications (RFA) process is offered several times a year to help you plan and apply for these assistance opportunities. Definitions of the practices, activities and project deliverables can be found in the following document: NCFS U&CF FAP Glossary of Deliverables and Requirements
Financial Assistance Program Packages
Climb to Tree City USA Package (Consolidated Program Grant (CPG); Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA))
Climb to Managing Community Package (Consolidated Program Grant (CPG); Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA))Tree Maintenance and Planting Packages: i) Tree maintenance and planting project (Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)) and ii) Bad Tree Bounty Project);Professional Staff Development Assistance
N.C. Arbor Day Celebration Assistance
Special Projects: Climb to Tree City USA Services (Hurricane Helene Recovery (HHR); and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)).
This assistance package is designed to help municipalities add urban forestry expertise to their organization by providing financial assistance for a staff member to obtain professional urban and community forestry credentials.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations
Municipalities and tribal governments that do not have staff with professional urban forestry credentials.
Eligible credentialsInternational Society of Arboriculture (ISA)Certified urban forest professionalTree risk assessment qualification (TRAQ)Society of American Foresters (SAF)Certified urban and community forester
Eligible expenses
Credentialing fees and associated training materialsTree risk assessment qualificationTRAQ three-day course for new applicants.Travel, lodging and per diem, if required.Training must take place in North Carolina or adjoining state