CanopyBloomington has received a $239,399 grant for education and tree maintenance programs focused on addressing equity issues through tree cover and community engagement.
Ava Hartman, the non-profit’s forestry and administrative director, said the funding would allow for CanopyBloomington to expand its efforts to increase the positive impacts that thriving urban forests can have on socio-economics, the environment, and public health.
“We know that in the past 25 years Bloomington’s forest canopy declined by 54%. That’s over 8,000 acres of trees,” Hartman said. “With this funding CanopyBloomington will be able to build on its community of volunteers, increase education and tree planting efforts, and grow efforts like our Youth Tree Tenders program.”
The organization has conducted tree plantings with residential neighborhoods, churches and schools, offers tree planting and care classes, and works with neighborhoods and communities to develop sustainable urban forest care and maintenance plans.
CanopyBloomington was one of nine organizations and cities selected by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Community & Urban Forestry Department to receive grants funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Urban & Community Forestry Program through the Inflation Reduction Act. The state was awarded $1.5 million through the program.
Read more about the Inflation Reduction Act.
Join the efforts to have a positive impact on Bloomington’s urban forest! Sign up for more information, or email hello@canopybloomington.org.
See where CanopyBloomington has planted trees, and learn how to sign up for tree plantings for your neighborhood or organization.