DFE - Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program 2026

The Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program 2026 is a competitive matching grant administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Bureau of Natural Resources and funded by the USDA Forest Service under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. The program provides cost-share funding on a reimbursement basis to Rhode Island local governments, public educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Projects must align with the 2020 Rhode Island Forest Action Plan and fall into one of three categories: Municipal Urban Tree Planting, Education and Outreach, or Urban & Community Forestry Program Development or Improvement. The performance period is scheduled from January 2027 through February 1, 2028, with a mid-year status report due July 1, 2027, and final reports and reimbursement requests due by March 2, 2028. Applicants must submit their proposals through the Grants Management System by November 15, 2026. Required submission components include a project schedule, an itemized budget proposal detailing cash and in-kind matches, and a proposal narrative limited to four double-spaced pages. Site-specific projects must also include a location map and site plan. Evaluation is based on several factors, including program alignment, technical capability, community engagement, equity, and budgetary soundness. To be eligible for funding, organizations must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, Ocean State Procures, and the GMS system, and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. All public materials produced under the grant require DFE approval and must include specific non-discrimination and funding acknowledgment statements.