Proposals Now Accepted for Tree Planting Projects

NASHVILLE— In an effort to increase city tree populations and enhance the benefits they provide, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is now accepting urban forestry tree planting project proposals through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP).

“The TAEP community tree planting grants will support much more than community beautification,” Commissioner Jai Templeton said. “The Tennessee grown trees that are planted from this cost-share program will provide energy savings, stormwater mitigation, air quality improvement, and increase the urban forest canopy.”

Local governments, private non-profit organizations and educational institutions are eligible to apply. TAEP offers a 50/50 matching cost-share program for tree planting on public property, rights-of-way, and private non-profit land and covers half the cost of trees and shipping, contracted planting, mulch, tree-watering bags, tree labels and acknowledgement signs.

TAEP funds can also be used for tree planting on private property but only within riparian areas. A riparian area is characterized as a 35-foot zone extending outward from the edge of a river, stream or creek bank. Although riparian tree plantings are allowed on private property, grants are not available to individual landowners.

Proposals must be received in TDA’s Division of Forestry office in Nashville by 4 p.m. CDT on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Find more information at https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/urban.html.

For assistance on developing a grant project contact:
• East Tennessee – Diane Warwick at 865-594-5439 or diane.warwick@tn.gov
• Middle & West Tennessee – Brian Rucker at 615-837-5439 or brian.rucker@tn.gov