By Gazette staff

STEVENS POINT – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2023 grant year.

“The City of Stevens Point Forestry Department applied for and was selected for a matching Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry grant for 2023.  The total grant award is a $50,000 with $25,000 in funds coming from the WI DNR and the City of Stevens Point matching $25,000 using already budgeted staff labor expenses,” stated a release from the forestry department.

The Urban Forestry Grant Program had almost $700,000 in grant funds, with $419,860 in state funding and an additional $273,512 in federal funding. A dollar-for-dollar match puts the estimated total cost of these projects at $1.5 million. In all, 58 applications were selected to receive funding, with awards ranging from $2,106 to $25,000.

Two types of grants were available for this application cycle, regular and startup. Regular grants award up to $25,000 to support new, innovative projects that will develop sustainable urban and community forestry programs. Startup grants are simplified grants available to communities that want to start or restart an urban forestry program and are competitive cost-share up to $5,000.

The forestry department said that there are several facets to the grant.

“The grant is for updating the city’s current Urban Forestry Management Plan which was last adopted in 2010.  The management plan will analyze the city’s street tree inventory which was updated in 2022. Additional project maintenance costs relating to tree planting, pruning and removal are also included.  This grant will take a proactive look at the forestry program and help provide guidance for the future.  The last management plan was integral in guiding the city through managing emerald ash borer disease and we believe this update will better position the city to work through future tree related emergencies that may arise,” the department explained.

“The grant will also provide funding for tree planting along the newly reconstructed Smith Street and Fifth Avenue. Due to increased construction costs on the project in 2022, tree planting was removed from the road construction budget to allow the road construction to move forward. Without this grant, funds would not have been available to plant trees in this area in 2023.

“Two other components in which the grant will help fund is the purchase of equipment to inject large American elms to protect them from Dutch Elm Disease (the city is home to some very large American elms, and we are committed to protecting 30 of them within the city) and the purchase of an Air Spade which will aid in exposing tree roots with limited damage during adjacent construction (such a sidewalk construction). “

“We’re so proud of our forestry team. Trees are a big part of what makes our neighborhoods sustainable and welcoming. This grant will help us continue our high standards as a Tree City, U.S.A.,” Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza stated.