Tennessee – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) is now accepting applications for funding to help communities expand tree canopy cover and strengthen urban ecosystems across the state.
“Our Urban and Community Forestry Program partners with Tennessee’s communities, helping them enhance the wellbeing of residents by cultivating and sustaining healthy urban and community forests,” said State Forester Heather Slayton. “One way we do that is by providing financial assistance to increase access to the many benefits trees provide, including stormwater mitigation, air quality improvement, and heat reduction.”
Through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) Community Tree Planting Program, organizations can receive state-funded support for costs such as purchasing and shipping trees, professional planting services, mulch, irrigation tools, tree labels, and signage. Eligible applicants include city and county governments, nonprofit organizations, and public schools. Grant awards range from $500 to $20,000.
Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. CT on September 30, 2025, at tnforestry.submittable.com/submit. For proposal assistance, applicants can contact Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator Ashley Kite-Rowland at [email protected].
TDF’s Urban and Community Forestry Program promotes the growth and sustainability of healthy forests through outreach, education, and financial support. The Division of Forestry protects, conserves, and enhances Tennessee’s forest resources, providing services to landowners, supporting forest health programs, supplying quality tree seedlings, assisting forest industries, collecting forest inventory data, and fighting wildland fires. More information is available at www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests and www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/urban.