ELIGIBLE PROJECTS: Projects must achieve young tree care (i.e. tree watering, tree pruning & maintenance), impervious surface removal, green infrastructure projects and/or tree planting that will have a measurable impact on the present and future urban canopy in Gateway Cities. Projects should focus tree planting on locations with limited tree canopy, particularly within areas experiencing documented urban heat island effects. In Gateway City communities where DCR has active planting crews, tree planting projects should occur within residential areas outside the areas that DCR crews are actively planting in. Impervious surface removal & tree pit creation may be executed within GGCP planting areas, in coordination with DCR Foresters and/or outside of the GGCP tree planting areas to facilitate additional tree planting by the municipality or non-profit organization. Costs of projects related to tree watering and maintenance of trees planted by the DCR GGCP program or planted through a past EEA Implementation grant are also eligible. Applicants are encouraged to contact the EEA Tree Planting Program Manager to discuss opportunities.
