Community Tree Planting Grants is a grant from the Metropolitan Council that funds cities, townships, counties, and regional park implementing agencies in Minnesota's seven-county metropolitan area to improve the region's tree canopy. In 2025, $2. 5 million is available with awards ranging from $10,000 to $500,000; projects must be completed by June 30, 2027.

State law prioritizes projects removing and replacing ash trees posing public safety concerns, and projects located in census block groups with high supplemental demographic index scores (70th percentile or higher). Each eligible applicant may submit one application. Individuals and private or nonprofit organizations are not eligible but may partner with an eligible governmental applicant.

Community Tree Planting Grants - Metropolitan Council Metropolitan Council - metrocouncil. org Community Tree Planting Grants The Community Tree Planting Grants provide funding to cities, townships, counties, and regional park implementing agencies for projects that improve the region’s tree canopy, as established in Minn. Stat.

§ 473. 355. State law set the following priorities for the 2025 program: Projects removing and replacing ash trees that pose significant public safety concerns.

Projects located in a census block group with a supplemental demographic index score in the 70th percentile or higher within Minnesota. Projects addressing both priorities are more likely to be funded. $2.

5 million is available in 2025 with an award minimum of $10,000 and maximum of $500,000. Project must be completed by June 30, 2027. Applicants are limited to one application.

Find further details about eligible activities, grant expectations, funding priorities, and evaluation criteria in the Notice of Funding Availability (PDF link) . March 5 – Application opens March 12, 10:00 a. m.

– Webinar March 26, 2:00 p. m. – Webinar April 18 – Application closes at 3:00 p.

m. Late spring – Application review and selection Early summer – Met Council approval and grant agreements Projects can take place between grant execution and June 30, 2027 . Applicants must be a city, county, township, or regional park implementing agency (Minn.

Stat. 473. 351, subd.

1(a)) within the seven-county metropolitan area (Minn. Stat. 473.

121, subd. 2). Individuals or private and nonprofit organizations are not eligible applicants but are welcome to partner on projects with an eligible applicant.

Applications are submitted through WebGrants , an online grants portal. If you are new to WebGrants (you have never had an account before) you will need to create an account. To submit an application: Thoroughly review the Notice of Funding Availability (PDF) and Criteria and Scoring Explanation (PDF).

Use the Scoring Factors Map (below) to find your community and identify census block groups meeting program goals. Draft your responses using this Draft Application in Word document before copying them into WebGrants. Develop your project timeline using the Project Timeline Template (Word Doc) .

Complete your 3-Year Maintenance Plan worksheet (PDF Form) for newly planted trees. Complete the Intended Tree Species List Form (PDF Form) . Use the Project Map and Site Guidance (PDF) and watch the demo to assist the creation of your: Project Map (based on the Scoring Factors Map below) showing where activities will take place.

Project Site Spreadsheet (Excel) to identify the census block groups where project activity will occur. Complete and submit WebGrants online application form, uploading these documents (4-7 above). The Scoring Factors Map is designed to help you identify tree planting projects that would address the priorities and criteria of this program.

The map includes: Highlighted census blocks that meet the community vulnerability program priority. Applications that focus on census block groups with high community vulnerability (defined as being in the 70 th percentile or higher on the Environmental Justice Screening Tool Supplemental Demographic Index) will be prioritized in review order and receive points through the evaluation criteria (see Criteria and Scoring Explanation ).

Highlighted census blocks that meet the extreme heat standard used in evaluation criteria. Applications that focus on census block groups with residents experiencing extreme heat (defined as being in the 70 th percentile or higher for land surface temperature in the region) will receive points through the evaluation criteria. It is possible that funds will be depleted funding applications in tier 1 or early in tier 2.

Applicants are encouraged to focus projects on activities that meet both priorities (ash and SDI). Learn more about the Scoring Factors Map and making your Project Map and Site Spreadsheet in the Project Map and Site Guidance (PDF) . You can also watch this demo on how to create your Project Map and your Site Spreadsheet.

Q: How accurate does my budget need to be? A: Try to make your budget as accurate as possible at this stage. We recognize that costs may change and that, in some instances, this may impact project scope.

Should your project be funded, any changes to project scope, budget, or location must be communicated to the Met Council. Budget adjustments between items of up to 20% of the total budget are allowed without staff review, though must be communicated prior to reimbursement. Adjustments between line items that exceed 20% of the total budget will be reviewed first by staff.

Any changes to scope, budget or locations that staff determine are significant changes to the original project (that may have made the project less competitive during the selection process), will require an amendment approval by Met Council’s Community Development Committee. Q: What if my project scope or project sites change after getting a grant? How accurate do my plans need to be at this stage?

A: Our panel reviewers will be looking for evidence that projects are well-conceived, thoroughly planned, and of a realistic scope. Your project will be scored and reviewed based on your proposed sites and activities.

Any changes to scope, budget or locations that staff determine are significant changes to the original project (that may have made the project less competitive during the selection process), will require an amendment approval by Met Council’s Community Development Committee before reimbursement for those changed activities.

Throughout your project, communicate changes or challenges in advance to Met Council staff, so they can help you identify options and avoid surprise claim reimbursement denials. Q: Can this grant be used to fund staff positions? A: Yes, it could fund staff time directly related to eligible project activities, including site prep, tree removal, tree planting, and maintenance.

Reimbursement requests will need to include documentation of staff hours and activities. Funds may not be used more broadly for planning or administration. Q: We are considering having a seasonal employee assist with a community tree planting project, including outreach and education.

However, they would have duties outside the project scope. Could we fund the entire position with grant funds, or would we only be able to reimburse their time with grant funds when they are working directly on the project? A: Only staff time focused on grant eligible activities (site prep, removing and planting trees, care and maintenance) could be covered by grant funds, not administrative time.

Similarly, no time spent on unrelated activities could be paid for with grant funds. Q: We are collaborating with a local non-profit and considering doing an arbor day celebration, outreach, and community education with them. Would paying them for these services through the grant be eligible?

A: While the scoring rubric values community collaboration, to maximize the number of trees planted with these limited funds, the scope of what this grant can cover is narrowly focused on removing and planting trees. Unfortunately, paying for outreach and community education like an Arbor Day event is not within this scope.

Q: What if the area where trees are being removed does not have enough space for some of the replacement trees because of underground utility structure that is now in place? A: If there are limitations to replanting in the exact same location due to utilities or other challenges, we suggest looking at public land nearby, ideally within the same census block group.

In the grant narrative, consider explaining the thought process behind replanting locations. Q: Does tree removal also include costs associated with disposal? A: Costs associated with those trees that have been removed with grant funding – including stump grinding and transportation of wood debris - are eligible uses of funds.

However, stand-alone wood waste management and costs associated with trees removed with non-grant funding are not eligible grant activities. Q: Is ongoing maintenance during the grant period an eligible activity? A: Yes, maintenance during the grant period on trees planted using grant funds is an eligible activity.

Q: Would starter fertilizer be an eligible expense for planting trees? A: Yes, starter fertilizer would be considered part of planting and establishment costs. Q: How can cities be reimbursed for 3-year maintenance plan costs if all work needs to be completed by June 30, 2027?

A: Cities cannot be reimbursed for any costs (including maintenance costs) incurred after the grant period ends on June 30, 2027. We ask for a three-year maintenance plan because we know that maintaining trees through their first years is critical for them staying healthy and alive. Maintenance after the grant term is the responsibility of the grantee.

One way grantees can explore having some maintenance costs covered through the grant is to purchase trees with warranties (some of which may include maintenance care) extending beyond the grant term.

We recognize that applicants will still be responsible for some maintenance costs in that three-year period and view the Maintenance Plan as a tool for making sure applicants are thinking through what it will take to make sure trees survive and succeed once planted. Q: Can grant funds be used to remove healthy ash trees?

A: Yes, because the metro region is now generally infested by Emerald Ash Borer and under a formal quarantine, these grant funds can be used for both healthy and diseased ash tree removal. Q: Do you have preferred vendors for purchasing trees? A: No. The Council leaves that decision to grantees.

Q: I see a requirement for climate-adapted trees, and a note about species diversity. How do we select tree species that are right for our community? A: We have provided a worksheet with a list climate-adapted tree species for our region.

This worksheet includes a few linked resources that provide further guidance on this. Additionally, building a healthy and resilient community tree canopy requires species diversity.

Foresters at the DNR have compiled lists of the tree species makeup of every community, you can email [email protected] with "Community Tree Survey Request" in the subject line, or you can contact a DNR forester in your area to understand the specific mix of tree species in your community.

Further stipulations may be included in your grant agreement around tree species, to exclude species that are already over-represented in your community. Q: Are the species on the list in the Intended Species List the only species we can plant? Can we plant non-native species?

A: The intended species list is not an exhaustive of eligible tree species. Applicants are able to plant additional species in their project and asked to include those species and a brief rationale for including them in the “Other” box on the Intended Tree Species List. All species funded through the grant must be climate-adapted species per Minnesota Statute 473.

355 . There are some urban climate-adapted species that are non-native, and they are eligible for funding. However, applicants should avoid non-native species that are on the Minnesota Noxious Weed List .

Q: What is the reason behind balled and burlapped trees not being eligible expenses? A: Balled and burlapped trees are typically more expensive than containerized and bareroot trees. Balled and burlapped trees are also harder to plant correctly so that they survive and thrive.

To use the limited funding efficiently to improve the health of the tree canopy, balled and burlapped trees are not eligible expenses. Q: Is a municipality required to have a resolution by the City Council submitted with the grant application? A: You are not required to submit a resolution, but it is expected that any applicant has the approval from their governing body to submit an application/accept a grant award.

The authorized representative identified in the application should ensure that they have the proper authority, as determined by each municipality, to submit a grant application. Some municipalities will have verbal authorization during the application phase and would then take formal action after being selected for an award so it wouldn’t necessarily be possible to have a resolution at this stage for all applicants.

Q: If our project gets funded, would we need to do a project update every 6 months? What will that reporting process look like? A: Grant recipients will be prompted by Council staff to submit a project update report every 6 months while the grant is still active (meaning before funds are entirely exhausted and the grant is closed, or before 6/30/27, or whichever is sooner).

These short reports will be on a template provided by the Council, and include information about activities and expenses to date, updates on any delays, and an expected timeline for the remainder of the project. Community Tree Planting Grants Webinar Council staff offered two webinars to share details about the 2025 Community Tree Planting Grant program.

This included program goals and priorities, scoring criteria, what makes a successful application, and answering questions. While the presentations were the same, the Q&A at the end differed. Watch the recording of the March 12, 2025 webinar here .

​ Watch the recording of the March 26, 2025 webinar here . If you have never had an account in WebGrants before, register here . You don’t need to create a new account if you have had one in the past, even if you have changed roles or are working with a different organization.

Just email [email protected] to let us know that you need your account updated and she will help you. Erin can help check your registration information but cannot create new accounts for users. If multiple people within your organization are helping complete the online application, send [email protected] a list of everyone who will do this before the project team registers.

This will help her quickly assign any new team members to the right agency/organization account. How do I start an application? I am working with a team.

Who should be the primary contact? The application’s primary contact should be the project manager from the government organization that will respond to questions and updates throughout the application and review process. If awarded funding, you can change your primary project contact if useful.

Can I save a section and come back? No, WebGrants doesn’t save sections until they are complete. You don’t need to complete the entire application at once, but you do need to complete the page you are working on before saving and exiting.

Use the Draft Application in Word document to help you draft responses outside of WebGrants. NOTE: Many questions have a character limit for length (which includes spaces). Be sure to check your character limits before pasting into WebGrants so that you don’t lose content in the transition.

Why can’t I type in the field it’s asking me to answer? In some cases, WebGrants requires that you save one section within a page before moving to the next section. If you’re unable to enter information where it seems you should be able to, look for a SAVE or EDIT button at either the top right of the page, or the top right of a section.

This should resolve the issue. What format should my required attachments be in? Submit everything as a PDF document, with the only exception being the Project Site Spreadsheet, which should be submitted as an Excel document.

After grants are awarded, the grants administration team is here to help grantees: to execute the grant agreement request reimbursement claims submit semi-annual project status reports discuss project changes, and when needed, process grant amendments close out the grant, and provide evidence of deliverables.

All grantees will be responsible for submitting evidence of expenses toward the project and documenting actions and deliverables throughout. This will be done in the form of reimbursement claims, semi-annual reports, and grant close-out reporting. Council staff will reach out to schedule an orientation meeting after grants have been awarded.

Grant Administration Resources Submit a Reimbursement Request in WebGrants The Community Tree Planting Grant Administration Guide will outline the requirements for each step of this process.

Designation of Signing Authority (DSA) Form Payment Request Form can be obtained by contacting the grant administrator (below) Semi-annual Report Form is accessible through WebGrants Closeout Forms will be provided at a later date For questions about reimbursement and reporting or to discuss changes to your project, contact Erin Brueggemann ( Erin. Brueggemann@ metc. state.

mn. us ). Community Tree Planting Grant Program Manager