Funding available for tree plantings, ash tree removals, tree inventories, outreach and more
Hennepin County is offering healthy tree canopy grants to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and nonprofit organizations to make positive changes in the tree canopy and engage the community in taking action to protect trees.
The goals of the program are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and disease, educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees, and increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy.
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Types of grants available
Grants are available to:
- Cities to complete tree inventories, develop tree management plans, plant and maintain trees, replace ash trees, develop gravel-bed nurseries, and conduct outreach.
- Affordable housing properties to remove ash trees and plant replacement trees.
- Schools and nonprofit organizations to plant trees, remove ash trees, conduct tree-related education, and hold Arbor Day celebrations.
See the healthy tree canopy grants flyer (PDF) to learn more about the types of grants available.
How to apply
Applications for cities and affordable housing properties are due Thursday, August 15. Applications for schools and nonprofit organizations are due Monday, October 28.
Application materials can be accessed and must be submitted through the online Supplier Portal.
Contact us for help with your grant project
Hennepin County foresters are available to help you develop projects and answer any questions related to the grant and application process.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the forestry team at trees@hennepin.us before applying.
Learn more
Visit the healthy tree canopy grants web page for more information on the grants available, helpful grant application resources, and examples of past projects.
New resources available to understand options for ash trees
Emerald ash borer is the biggest current threat to our tree canopy. There are over 1 million ash trees in Hennepin County, and 100 percent of them are threatened by emerald ash borer.
To help residents determine if they have ash trees and decide how they are going to manage them, we created a new decision guide for managing ash trees (PDF) that outlines the following steps:
- Identify and inventory ash trees
- Determine if your ash trees are worth saving
- Work with a certified arborist to treat trees that are worth saving
- Monitor and make a plan for removal and replanting of trees that aren’t being treated
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Spread the word
The following communication resources are available to help you spread the word about emerald ash borer and managing ash trees:
About 30 volunteers joined Hennepin County foresters on Saturday, June 1 to add about 100 trees to the Hiawatha Avenue Corridor in Minneapolis. These trees will help beautify the corridor and shade the bike path. Below are some photos from the planting. Many thanks to the great volunteers!
   
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