Politics & Government

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Announces Grants for Urban Forestry Projects

Simsbury is on the list.

 

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced on Jan. 24 that 17 municipalities and non-profit organizations will receive $81,425 in America the Beautiful grants for urban forestry projects in their communities. 

These grants cover a range of urban forestry activities, including an urban tree canopy assessment in New Britain, improvements to a volunteer tree nursery in Milford and the replacement of trees lost to Tropical Storm Irene in Sprague.   Communities across the state will benefit from these grants, from Sprague to Wilton and from New Haven to Simsbury.  

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Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said, “Improving and managing urban forests in Connecticut touches everyone’s lives, whether you live or work in a city, suburbs or rural area. The trees you come into contact every day including ones along a highway, in a park or in residential and commercial neighborhoods are vital to the quality of life in Connecticut. The America the Beautiful Grants awarded recently will help communities meet their forestry management goals during these tough economic times and will preserve natural resources and their beauty in Connecticut.”  

The state’s America the Beautiful Urban Forestry Grant Program is made possible by funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry.   

Find out what's happening in Simsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the America the Beautiful Grant Program, municipalities and non-profit organizations are able to apply to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for grants of up to $8,000. It is a requirement for reimbursement that all expenditures are to be matched dollar for dollar. This match may be a financial match or it may be achieved by in-kind contributions of goods or services donated by grant partners or a combination of both.        

2011 America the Beautiful Grant Awards Total Amount Awarded $81,425 including:  

Town of Simsbury: Shultz Park Tree Identification, Mapping and Gazebo Improvements $1,092.67

In the gazebo located in the middle of Schultz Park, a map has been painted on the ceiling identifying the location of trees planted in the park. This grant will allow the town to refurbish the map within the gazebo and also place identifying tags in front of the trees noted on the map.         

This information provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.


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