Tree planting in the Upper Peninsula's Breitung Charter Township, street tree maintenance and planting in Benton Harbor and tree planting in Three Rivers are among the community projects across Michigan sharing in nearly $650,000 in grants.
The Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant Program is made possible via the Urban and Community Forestry Program in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. The federally funded grants are awarded through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
"Trees are essential community infrastructure, and this grant program helps extend their many benefits to more Michigan communities," said Kerry Gray, DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program grant specialist.
Trees play an essential role in improving the quality of life for Michigan residents. They boost air quality, cool our communities, lower energy costs and help manage stormwater. Trees also support the mental and physical well-being of people who enjoy their shade and beauty, contributing to healthier, more resilient communities across the state.
The grants were awarded to 15 communities and organizations benefiting more than 1.5 million Michigan residents. The grantees will collectively plant and care for more than 1,200 trees, create inventories of city trees and develop plans to sustainably manage over 2,000 public trees.
And the awards go to ...
These projects received funding, and each includes outreach and engagement components to help advance local urban and community forestry initiatives.
- City of Albion: $75,000 for street tree planting, care and maintenance.
- Breitung Charter Township: $21,412 for park tree planting, care and maintenance.
- City of Benton Harbor: $75,000 for street tree planting, care and maintenance.
- City of Caro: $21,000 to complete a public tree inventory and management plan to guide tree planting and maintenance activities in the city.
- City of Charlotte: $61,000 to expand and enhance the city's tree nursery.
- City of Clio: $15,000 for street tree planting and care.
- The Edison Institute (The Henry Ford): $11,125 for tree planting, care and education.
- Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority: $75,000 for tree planting and care at Willow and Oakwoods metroparks.
- City of Lathrup Village: $75,000 for street tree planting, care and maintenance.
- Village of Oxford: $10,000 for street and park tree planting and care.
- Village of Peck: $10,700 for street and park tree planting and care.
- City of Roosevelt: $28,500 for street tree planting, care and maintenance.
- Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy: $75,000 for public tree planting and care.
- Village of Shelby: $20,345 to complete a public tree inventory and management plan to guide tree planting and maintenance activities in the village.
- City of Three Rivers: $75,000 for public tree planting and care to replace trees lost to the spring 2026 tornado.
About the program:
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program is a federally funded program providing technical, educational and grant assistance to communities, nonprofits, educational institutions and tribes to build capacity for managing trees and forests in communities throughout the state. Learn more at Michigan.gov/UCF.