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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Dustin Ellis, Environment and Energy
Alisa Reckinger, Communications
Hennepin County forestry has several initiatives this spring to promote and protect the county’s tree canopy. Residents can order seedlings, apply for grants, and learn about the benefits of trees. The county also received a $10 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service through the Inflation Reduction Act to remove and replace diseased trees, create new workforce programs, and enhance resilience to climate change.
Hennepin County pursued the grant to respond to community concerns about the financial burden the spread of the invasive emerald ash borer was placing on residents. For the first time, the grant funding will allow county foresters to help homeowners with low incomes get trees removed and replaced, reducing the disproportionate impact felt by these homeowners in managing the unexpected costs of tree removal.
The county will also give significant funding to community-based organizations to promote the removal and replacement service, educate residents on tree care, and expand workforce development programs to employ and train youth and adults. The influx of federal dollars will expand the county’s capacity to improve the tree canopy by increasing forestry unit staffing by 60% and nearly doubling the budget for the next five years.
Hennepin County has a goal, established in the county’s Climate Action Plan, of planting 1 million trees with the help of cities, partners, and residents by 2030. So far, 348,000 trees have been planted toward that goal. This is great progress, but we still have a ways to go, and we need everyone’s help to get there!
Meet foresters and talk about all things trees! Hear how the U.S. Forest Service grant will help reduce disproportionate impacts felt by low-income homeowners, learn more about forestry initiatives and see the county’s gravel-bed nursery where trees are grown before being transplanted to sites throughout the county.
When
- Thursday, March 7, 2024
- Media availability from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Where
- Hennepin County gravel bed nursery, 1145 Shenandoah Ln N, Plymouth
- This is an in-person event held outdoors. Wear closed-toed shoes and clothing to keep you comfortable outside.
- Please use the southernmost entrance to the facility and park in the first parking lot. There will be a Hennepin County staff person at the lot to direct you to the gravel bed.
- Map to gravel bed nursery parking lot.
What
Trees and forests provide many benefits, including improving our air and water, making ourselves and our communities healthier, providing shade and reducing the urban heat island effect, providing wildlife habitat, saving energy, and increasing property values. Trees play an important role in fighting climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Hennepin County forestry programs offered this spring for residents and partners include:
- Spring tree sale: Happening now! Residents can order bundles of tree seedlings, at cost, to plant on their property.
- Healthy Tree Canopy Grants: Applications are being accepted through March 26 for projects that enhance the tree canopy. Cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and nonprofit organizations can apply.
- $10 million Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry grant: Hennepin County was recently awarded $10 million from the U.S. Forest Service to remove diseased trees, plant trees, educate residents, and support businesses and workforce development. Work will begin this spring and continue through January 31, 2029. Hennepin County will help homeowners with low incomes get trees removed and replaced on their properties. The grant will support workforce development by creating two new programs – an arborist apprenticeship program for adults and an introductory tree maintenance program for high school aged youth and young adults. These are in addition to the continuation of the Forestry Productive Day program.
- Gravel-bed nursery: Trees in the gravel bed nursery are used for county planting projects and sold, at cost, to cities within the county. Compared to conventional nursery trees, the gravel-bed nursery gives the county access to a wider diversity of tree species, produces trees that have a good survival rate, and allows the county to plant trees in a more cost-effective manner.
Who
- John Evans, Assistant Director of Hennepin County Environment and Energy
- Dustin Ellis, Hennepin County Forestry Supervisor
Topics for this media availability include anything related to forestry work by Hennepin County. Additional context and information about these programs can be found at Hennepin.us/trees.
 People gather at Hennepin County's gravel bed nursery to learn about the benefits of growing trees this way
 Hennepin County foresters working together to plant trees
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
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