We are excited to share the derecho recovery grant program for communities that were impacted by the storm in 2020 is now available for fall 2022.

The Iowa Legislature has appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to be used for a community-based tree planting program for derecho recovery. A total of $250,000 in funds will be made available to local governments, schools, and service organizations in the 27 Iowa counties included in the Governor’s August 2020 Disaster Proclamation for planting trees.

In addition, the DNR has received $250,000 in funds through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters (NASF) for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) reforestation.

The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to be used for the purchase and planting of trees suitable to Iowa on publicly owned lands. For this round of grants, award recipients in counties impacted by both the August 10, 2020 derecho and Emerald Ash Borer will be awarded federal EAB Reforestation funds as a dollar-for-dollar match for state infrastructure derecho recovery funds. Award recipients will be reimbursed up to $5,000 of derecho recovery grant funds and $5,000 grant match funds.

Qualifying public planting lands include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and trails (DNR lands are not eligible).

The application and rules are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/urbanforestry. Entities may submit multiple proposals. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2022.

For questions about reimbursement and rules, please contact Emma Hanigan – emma.hanigan@dnr.iowa.gov, 515-249-1732. For assistance with the application and site visits, please contact Janessa Hollmaier – janessa.hollmaier@dnr.iowa.gov, 319-826-0814.

Here is a link for the press release - Grant funds available for communities impacted by the 2020 derecho.