Grant Program Funds Tree Plantings
It’s not always easy for communities to fund all the tree plantings they’d like to do. While beauty, shade, homes for animals, and environmental services are all benefits people appreciate, putting dollars into dirt and saplings isn’t always priority when countless municipal projects are needed.
That’s where Georgia ReLeaf comes in! Georgia ReLeaf is a grant program administered by the Georgia Tree Council and funded by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Grants are made available for tree planting in public spaces or tree giveaways for private residents, or a combination of both.
Qualified categories for funding include:
- Canopy restoration following storms or other natural disasters.
- Projects that contribute to tree equity and environmental justice in disadvantaged communities.
- Projects that utilize trees as Green Infrastructure.
This past planting season, more than $59 thousand was awarded to 14 recipients, including Cairo, Cedartown, Brunswick, Cochran, Bryan County, Covington, Gwinnett Housing Authority, Thomasville, Statesboro, Warner Robins, Oxford, Savannah, Valdosta, and Thunderbolt.
In the 2022-2023 season, approximately 300 trees were planted and more than 2,400 trees were distributed. If all trees live to maturity, more than 50 acres of canopy will be generated.
ReLeaf grants provide excellent opportunities to strengthen partnerships, establish and build new ones, and create relationships between a community and its local Georgia Forestry Commission personnel and resources. To learn more about this program, go to https://gatrees.org/urban-community-forestry/georgia-releaf-grant-program/.