Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS UCF 01 2013
Apply for USDA FS UCF 01 2013
- The Forest Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2013 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.675 Urban and Community Forestry Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 16, 2012 and posted on Oct 3, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 3, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments County governments State governments Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2013 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant opportunity is a competitive federal grant program run by the U.S. Forest Service under the Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program (CFDA 10.675). The program is guided by the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, a congressionally designated council that helps set annual grant categories and reviews proposals before recommending projects for Forest Service consideration. Proposals must align with the Urban and Community Forestry authorities in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (Section 9) and are expected to produce outcomes that matter beyond a single community, with national or multi-state relevance, application, and impact. A reference list of previously funded projects was provided through an external website to help applicants understand the type and scale of projects historically supported.
For FY 2013, the Forest Service anticipated roughly $900,000 in total funding available, with an expectation of about five awards overall and at least three awards focused on the innovation priorities described in the announcement. The award ceiling was listed as $900,000 and the award floor as $0, with the clear caveat that all awards depend on final appropriations and availability of funds. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity areas span community development, education, environment, natural resources, regional development, and research and development, reflecting that the program is meant to support both on-the-ground program innovation and the knowledge or systems that help urban forestry efforts scale.
Eligibility is broad but not universal. Applicants can be any U.S. non-federal organization operating in the United States or its territories, including state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, special districts, public housing authorities, independent school districts, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and public or private institutions of higher education. Even though collaboration with federal agencies is encouraged, federal agencies cannot receive grant funds and cannot be counted as matching resources, and federal dollars or federally provided in-kind services or materials cannot be used as match. The program also excludes individuals and commercial businesses, and it does not fund work on private land as the project focus. Just as important, the announcement explicitly rules out purely local projects: local tree-planting efforts, capital improvements to property of any ownership, and projects whose impacts are only local in scope were not to be considered under this national challenge program. Applicants with local-only ideas were directed to work with their State Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator to find more appropriate state or local funding channels.
A central requirement of the program is cost share. Grant recipients must provide at least a 1:1 non-federal match (dollar-for-dollar) for the federal funds requested. Matching contributions can be cash or eligible in-kind support such as volunteer time or donated goods and services, as long as the match is directly tied to the proposed project. Applicants must clearly identify the source of match and comply with applicable federal grants management rules, emphasizing that projects should be planned with credible, well-documented partner commitments and realistic accounting for volunteer and donated contributions.
The 2013 competition focused on two strategic priority issues identified by the Advisory Council as pressing national or multi-state needs in urban and community forestry. The first priority is outward-facing and community-centered: proposals should create outreach programs, pilot projects, or coordinated initiatives that clearly communicate how urban forests improve personal well-being and overall quality of life, and do so through genuine community engagement. Required elements include educating distinct segments of the public about urban forest benefits, mobilizing individuals to plant and care for trees both on community property and on their own private property, engaging community groups to assume responsibility for their local environment, and positioning urban forestry as a core component of long-term community planning. The expected outcome is not just awareness, but measurable behavior change and policy integration, with resulting best practices designed so they can be adopted or embedded into land use planning and community development processes in other comparable municipalities.
The second priority is workforce and education focused: proposals should design recruitment and retention strategies that strengthen and support existing urban forestry academic curriculum. Projects in this category are expected to show measurable increases from baseline enrollment in urban forestry majors, concentrations, or minors, and also increase the share of students in broader natural resources programs who pursue careers in urban and community forestry after graduation. Replicability is a key test here as well; the recruitment and retention approach should be transferable to other schools. Applicants were encouraged to consult the Society of American Foresters (SAF) list of accredited programs and relevant criteria when shaping proposals, and suggested approaches could include outreach and incentive programs or curriculum development, preferably building on existing curricula rather than starting from scratch.
The opportunity emphasized innovation, collaboration, and scale. The Council encouraged proposals from organizations, local governments, tribal agencies, and partnerships that could demonstrate the reach, resources, and expertise to deliver results that are meaningful and repeatable across jurisdictions. Applicants were encouraged to form partnerships beyond the usual urban forestry network, to think in multi-year timeframes, and to braid in other non-federal resources where possible, while maintaining the strict prohibition on using federal contributions as match. Key administrative details included a posted date of October 3, 2012, and a closing date of December 3, 2012 (with the archive date listed as January 2, 2013). Program questions were directed to Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff to the Council, with contact by phone during specified Eastern Time business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - 2013 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant
What is the 2013 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant opportunity?
It is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Forest Service under the Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program (CFDA 10.675). The competition is designed to fund urban and community forestry projects that have relevance and impact beyond a single community.
Which agency runs this grant program?
The program is run by the U.S. Forest Service.
What is the role of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council?
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council is a congressionally designated council that helps set annual grant categories and reviews proposals before recommending projects for Forest Service consideration.
What legal authority must proposals align with?
Proposals must align with the Urban and Community Forestry authorities in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (Section 9).
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. The announcement describes it as a competitive federal grant program.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
How much total funding was anticipated for FY 2013?
The Forest Service anticipated roughly $900,000 in total funding available for FY 2013, subject to final appropriations and the availability of funds.
How many awards were expected?
About five awards overall were expected, with at least three awards focused on the innovation priorities described in the announcement.
What is the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling was listed as $900,000 and the award floor as $0. All awards were contingent on final appropriations and availability of funds.
What kinds of activity areas does this program support?
The activity areas span community development, education, environment, natural resources, regional development, and research and development. The program is intended to support both on-the-ground innovation and the knowledge or systems that help urban forestry efforts scale.
Do projects need to have national or multi-state relevance?
Yes. Proposals are expected to produce outcomes that matter beyond a single community, with national or multi-state relevance, application, and impact.
Are purely local projects eligible?
No. The announcement explicitly rules out purely local projects and states that projects whose impacts are only local in scope were not to be considered under this national challenge program.
Is local tree planting an eligible project under this program?
No. Local tree-planting efforts were specifically identified as not to be considered under this national challenge program when the impacts are only local in scope.
Are capital improvements eligible?
No. The opportunity states that it does not fund capital improvements to property of any ownership.
Can projects focus on private land?
No. The program does not fund work on private land as the project focus.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants can be any U.S. non-federal organization operating in the United States or its territories, including state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, special districts, public housing authorities, independent school districts, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and public or private institutions of higher education.
Are federal agencies eligible applicants or recipients?
No. Although collaboration with federal agencies is encouraged, federal agencies cannot receive grant funds under this opportunity.
Can individuals apply?
No. Individuals are excluded.
Can commercial businesses apply?
No. Commercial businesses are excluded.
Is collaboration encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and scale, and encourages partnerships that can demonstrate reach, resources, and expertise to deliver repeatable results across jurisdictions.
Is a cost share (match) required?
Yes. Grant recipients must provide at least a 1:1 non-federal match (dollar-for-dollar) for the federal funds requested.
What qualifies as match?
Matching contributions can be cash or eligible in-kind support such as volunteer time or donated goods and services, as long as the match is directly tied to the proposed project and properly documented.
Can federal funds be used as match?
No. Federal dollars cannot be used as match.
Can federally provided in-kind services or materials be used as match?
No. Federally provided in-kind services or materials cannot be used as match.
Can federal agencies be counted as matching resources?
No. Federal agencies cannot be counted as matching resources.
Do applicants need to document the match?
Yes. Applicants must clearly identify the source of match and comply with applicable federal grants management rules, including credible and well-documented partner commitments and realistic accounting for volunteer and donated contributions.
What were the FY 2013 strategic priority issues?
The 2013 competition focused on two strategic priority issues identified by the Advisory Council as pressing national or multi-state needs in urban and community forestry: (1) outreach and community engagement focused on communicating quality-of-life benefits of urban forests and driving behavior change and planning integration, and (2) workforce and education strategies to recruit and retain students in urban forestry pathways and increase entry into urban and community forestry careers.
What is Priority Issue #1 about?
Priority Issue #1 calls for outreach programs, pilot projects, or coordinated initiatives that communicate how urban forests improve personal well-being and quality of life through genuine community engagement, with outcomes designed to be adopted by other comparable municipalities.
What required elements were included under Priority Issue #1?
Required elements include: educating distinct segments of the public about urban forest benefits; mobilizing individuals to plant and care for trees on community property and on their own private property; engaging community groups to assume responsibility for their local environment; and positioning urban forestry as a core component of long-term community planning.
What types of outcomes were expected under Priority Issue #1?
The expected outcome includes measurable behavior change and policy integration, with resulting best practices designed so they can be adopted or embedded into land use planning and community development processes in other comparable municipalities.
What is Priority Issue #2 about?
Priority Issue #2 focuses on workforce and education by designing recruitment and retention strategies that strengthen and support existing urban forestry academic curriculum.
What outcomes were expected under Priority Issue #2?
Projects are expected to show measurable increases from baseline enrollment in urban forestry majors, concentrations, or minors, and to increase the share of students in broader natural resources programs who pursue careers in urban and community forestry after graduation.
Does Priority Issue #2 require strategies to be replicable?
Yes. Replicability is a key test. The recruitment and retention approach should be transferable to other schools.
Were applicants encouraged to consult any specific academic reference?
Yes. Applicants were encouraged to consult the Society of American Foresters (SAF) list of accredited programs and relevant criteria when shaping proposals.
What kinds of approaches were suggested for Priority Issue #2?
Suggested approaches could include outreach and incentive programs or curriculum development, preferably building on existing curricula rather than starting from scratch.
Were applicants given any reference for previously funded projects?
Yes. A reference list of previously funded projects was provided through an external website to help applicants understand the type and scale of projects historically supported.
What did the opportunity emphasize about project design?
The opportunity emphasized innovation, collaboration, and scale, encouraging applicants to form partnerships beyond the usual urban forestry network, think in multi-year timeframes, and braid in other non-federal resources where possible (while still not using federal contributions as match).
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The posted date was October 3, 2012. The closing date was December 3, 2012. The archive date was January 2, 2013.
Who was the contact for program questions?
Program questions were directed to Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff to the Council, with contact by phone during specified Eastern Time business hours.
Where should applicants with local-only project ideas go for funding?
The announcement directed applicants with local-only ideas to work with their State Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator to find more appropriate state or local funding channels.
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