Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS UCF 01 2015
Apply for USDA FS UCF 01 2015
- The Forest Service in the community development disaster prevention and relief employment, labor and training environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2015 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program" 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 Feb 26, 2014 and posted on Feb 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2014. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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 City or township governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments County governments Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2015 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Forest Service under the Urban and Community Forestry Program (CFDA 10.675). It is shaped by the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC), a congressionally designated advisory council that helps the Secretary of Agriculture and the Forest Service set national priorities for urban and community forestry and recommend projects for final consideration. The overall aim is to strengthen and sustain urban and community forests as essential public assets, emphasizing the idea that well-managed urban forests support public health and well-being, economic vitality, and long-term ecological resilience.
A key point in this funding opportunity is that it is intended to tackle national-level issues, not routine local tree-planting efforts or projects limited to a single city or a single state. The program is looking for proposals with national or multi-state application and impact, meaning the work should be transferable, scalable, replicable, or otherwise influential beyond one jurisdiction. Applicants are expected to frame their projects as solutions, tools, analyses, models, or approaches that can be applied broadly across regions or communities, rather than as a one-off implementation effort.
For this funding cycle, NUCFAC identified three priority grant categories. The first focuses on incorporating urban forests as green infrastructure into urban planning practices, specifically in ways that improve outcomes for ecologically underserved communities and regions. This category supports efforts that embed trees and urban forest systems into planning, policy, and decision-making as core infrastructure, with an equity lens aimed at places that historically have had fewer environmental benefits or have borne disproportionate environmental burdens. The second category is a Green Infrastructure Jobs Analysis, which signals interest in workforce and economic dimensions of green infrastructure, such as understanding job creation, labor market needs, career pathways, and how urban forestry and related green infrastructure investments translate into employment and training opportunities. The third category targets the use of green infrastructure to manage and mitigate stormwater in order to improve water quality, encouraging approaches where urban forests and related practices are treated as functional systems for runoff reduction, infiltration, and water quality benefits.
Applicants are allowed to submit proposals to more than one category, but each category requires a separate application package. The solicitation emphasizes cost share, meaning there is a matching requirement (cost sharing or matching is required), and proposals should be prepared with that expectation in mind. The Forest Service anticipated making roughly 50 awards from an estimated total funding amount of $900,000. Individual awards could be as high as $300,000, with no stated minimum award floor.
Eligibility is broad and includes state governments, local governments (including city or township governments, county governments, and special district governments), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, federally recognized tribal governments, and other Native American tribal organizations. Both public and private institutions of higher education are eligible, as are nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). This wide eligibility reflects the program's focus on cross-sector solutions and the reality that urban forestry and green infrastructure work often involves partnerships among government, academia, and nonprofit organizations.
The opportunity was posted in late February 2014, with an application deadline of May 15, 2014 (Grant Opportunity Number USDA FS UCF 01 2015). Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, and prospective applicants were directed to find the full announcement details through the NUCFAC website or by searching the CFDA number 10.675 or the opportunity number. The primary program contact listed was Nancy Stremple (nstremple@fs.fed.us; phone 202-205-7829), and applicants were also encouraged to coordinate with their Forest Service Regional Urban Forestry Program Manager/Coordinator for guidance, with regional contacts provided through the Forest Service urban forestry contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the 2015 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program?
It is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Forest Service under the Urban and Community Forestry Program (CFDA 10.675). The program is designed to strengthen and sustain urban and community forests as essential public assets that support public health and well-being, economic vitality, and long-term ecological resilience.
Who runs and helps shape this grant program?
The grant is run by the U.S. Forest Service. National priorities and project recommendations are shaped by the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC), a congressionally designated advisory council that advises the Secretary of Agriculture and the Forest Service.
What is the main purpose or overall aim of the funding?
The overall aim is to strengthen and sustain urban and community forests as public assets, with an emphasis on well-managed urban forests contributing to public health, economic vitality, and ecological resilience.
Is this funding intended for local tree-planting projects?
No. A key point in the solicitation is that it is intended to tackle national-level issues rather than routine local tree-planting efforts or projects limited to a single city or a single state.
What kind of project scale and impact is expected?
The program is looking for national or multi-state application and impact. Proposals are expected to produce work that is transferable, scalable, replicable, or otherwise influential beyond one jurisdiction.
How should applicants frame their proposed work?
Applicants are expected to frame projects as broadly usable solutions, tools, analyses, models, or approaches that can be applied across regions or communities, rather than one-off implementation efforts limited to a single place.
What are the priority grant categories for this funding cycle?
NUCFAC identified three priority categories: (1) incorporating urban forests as green infrastructure into urban planning practices (with an emphasis on improving outcomes for ecologically underserved communities and regions), (2) a Green Infrastructure Jobs Analysis, and (3) using green infrastructure to manage and mitigate stormwater to improve water quality.
What does the first priority category focus on?
The first category focuses on incorporating urban forests as green infrastructure into urban planning practices, specifically in ways that improve outcomes for ecologically underserved communities and regions. This includes embedding trees and urban forest systems into planning, policy, and decision-making as core infrastructure with an equity lens.
What does "ecologically underserved" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Within the description provided, it refers to communities and regions that historically have had fewer environmental benefits or have borne disproportionate environmental burdens, and where planning and green infrastructure approaches can improve outcomes.
What does the Green Infrastructure Jobs Analysis category cover?
This category signals interest in workforce and economic dimensions of green infrastructure, such as job creation, labor market needs, career pathways, and how investments in urban forestry and related green infrastructure translate into employment and training opportunities.
What does the stormwater and water quality category emphasize?
It targets the use of green infrastructure to manage and mitigate stormwater in order to improve water quality, encouraging approaches where urban forests and related practices function as systems for runoff reduction, infiltration, and water quality benefits.
Can an applicant submit proposals to more than one priority category?
Yes. Applicants are allowed to submit proposals to more than one category, but each category requires a separate application package.
Is cost share or matching required?
Yes. The solicitation emphasizes cost share, meaning cost sharing or matching is required and proposals should be prepared with that expectation in mind.
How much total funding is anticipated, and how many awards are expected?
The Forest Service anticipated making roughly 50 awards from an estimated total funding amount of $900,000.
What is the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $300,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor is stated in the information provided.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state governments; local governments (including city or township governments, county governments, and special district governments); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are included in the eligible applicant types listed.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Both public and private institutions of higher education are eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are eligible, and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are also eligible (other than institutions of higher education).
When was this opportunity posted and what was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted in late February 2014, and the application deadline was May 15, 2014.
What is the grant opportunity number and CFDA number?
The Grant Opportunity Number is USDA FS UCF 01 2015, and the CFDA number is 10.675.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov.
Where could applicants find the full announcement details?
Prospective applicants were directed to find full announcement details through the NUCFAC website or by searching using CFDA 10.675 or the opportunity number USDA FS UCF 01 2015.
Who is the primary program contact listed for this opportunity?
The primary program contact listed is Nancy Stremple. Email: nstremple@fs.fed.us. Phone: 202-205-7829.
Is there anyone else applicants were encouraged to coordinate with?
Yes. Applicants were encouraged to coordinate with their Forest Service Regional Urban Forestry Program Manager/Coordinator for guidance, with regional contacts provided through the Forest Service urban forestry contact page.
What does it mean that the program targets national-level issues?
Based on the solicitation summary, it means the Forest Service is seeking proposals that produce broadly applicable outputs (tools, models, analyses, approaches) and that can be used across multiple states or regions, rather than projects that only implement activities within a single city or single state.
Does the program encourage cross-sector partnerships?
The eligibility list spans government, academia, and nonprofit organizations, reflecting a cross-sector approach to urban forestry and green infrastructure solutions.
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