Iowa communities with a population of 5,000 or more can learn about tree care, identification and inventory through a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The two-year grant program currently provides training and assistance to a handful of Iowa communities and is accepting applications for additional communities in 2016.
Grant communities receive training on tree identification, health, inventory, planting, corrective pruning and maintenance, benefits of urban trees, ordinances and community outreach. Each selected community will have a complete street tree inventory, canopy cover analysis, and an urban tree management plan with goals and methods to increase its tree canopy.
Grant applications and instructions are available at www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/Forestry/UrbanForestry.aspx. The deadline to apply is September 1.