DEEP Announces Grant Recipients and New Funding Opportunity for Urban and Community Forestry

Press Releases 06/13/2025 DEEP Announces Grant Recipients and New Funding Opportunity for Urban and Community Forestry More Than $184,000 Awarded to Support Projects in 9 Communities; "Trees for Communities" Grant Applications Due August 31 (HARTFORD) - The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today recipients of 2025 Urban and Community Forestry Planning and Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration grants. Over $184,000 will be granted to support 11 urban and community forestry projects in Bloomfield, Ellington, Mansfield, New London, North Stonington, Old Saybrook, Ridgefield, Stamford, and Stratford. Healthy urban forests contribute greatly to quality of life and public health in our cities and towns. Funded projects include a variety of activities that will protect and enhance urban and community forests, such as tree inventories, forest management plans, invasive species removal, and native tree plantings. A list of grant recipients, grant amounts, and project summaries are available on DEEP's Urban Forestry Grant Accomplishments webpage. "Urban forests contribute to livable cities and provide numerous benefits, including heat and pollution mitigation, stormwater management, and improved health outcomes for residents," said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. "Urban trees can boost local business and support workforce development and have been linked to reductions in crime. The grants offered through DEEP's Urban and Community Forestry Program help communities in Connecticut access these benefits while also working towards meeting our state's statutory goal to increase urban tree canopy cover by 2040." These grants were made possible by federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. New Grant Opportunity: Trees for Communities DEEP also is pleased to announce that the Trees for Communities Grant Program is now accepting applications from Connecticut governmental entities and non-profit organizations. A total of $1 million is available for grants up to $200,000 each to support urban forestry projects that increase tree cover and protect trees in low-canopy, high-need communities. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, tree planting and maintenance, urban forest planning, workforce development, invasive species management, and forest restoration. More information can be found on DEEP's Trees for Communities Grant Program webpage. Applications are due August 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Questions will be accepted through July 31, 2025, at DEEP.UCF.Grants@ct.gov, and a report with answers will be published on the DEEP Grants website by August 8, 2025. Grant deadlines are subject to change. Those interested in applying to the Trees for Communities grant program are encouraged to attend virtual office hours or register for an informational webinar on July 8, 2025, at 4:30 PM, to ask questions about types of eligible projects, application development, or the submission process. Information about the grant webinar and office hours are posted on the Trees for Communities Grant Program webpage. In addition, a technical advisor is available to advise potential applicants on project design and proposal preparation. Contact DEEP.UCF.Grants@ct.gov for technical advising or other grant-related questions. To learn more about urban forestry in Connecticut, visit Urban Forestry in Connecticut. Twitter: @CTDEEPNews Facebook: DEEP on Facebook Contact DEEP Communications DEEP.communications@ct.gov 860-424-3110 Twitter Facebook Email Print