The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is officially opening applications for the Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants. This initiative follows recent severe weather incidents that struck Wisconsin, prompting Governor Tony Evers to sign Executive Order #256 on Tuesday. According to the DNR release, the executive order declares a state of emergency from last Saturday through Tuesday in response to the heavy ice and snow that impacted the region.
Eligible entities—including municipalities, counties, tribal governments, and 501(c)(3) organizations within Wisconsin—are now encouraged to quickly, but carefully, to prepare and submit their grant applications. The funds, ranging from $4,000 to $50,000, are designed specifically to aid in the repair, removal, or replacement of trees in urban settings in the aftermath of the catastrophic storm. Notably, these grants do not mandate a matching contribution, making them more accessible to communities hit hardest by the natural disaster. Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 2.
The Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant program by the DNR is narrowly focused on mitigating the damage caused by certain natural events, as defined under s. 323.10 of the Wis. Stats. Qualifying catastrophic storms include those involving snow, ice, hail, wind, or tornadoes. It's important to note, though, that forest fires, disease, drought, flooding, and insect infestations fall outside the scope of this program. The grants aim to address issues within densely populated urban areas, specifically those with a minimum residential density of 100 people per square mile, a statistic informed by data from the U.S. Census Bureau as provided by the Wisconsin Demographic Service Center.
These grants provide funding for storm-related debris removal and support reforestation efforts in urban areas. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has outlined eligibility criteria to ensure the financial assistance is directed to areas in need. The application window is limited, and organizations or municipalities interested in applying can find more details and instructions on the DNR website.
