LISLE, Ill. (Jan. 14, 2025)—The Morton Arboretum announced Tuesday it has collectively awarded $7.9 million in federal urban and community forestry funding to 39 Illinois organizations—ranging from government entities and community groups to higher education institutions and other nonprofits—for urban and community forestry work in priority areas across the state.

Arboretum President and CEO Jill Koski reported that the tree-focused nonprofit received 61 applications requesting $15.3 million in total grant funding from organizations throughout Illinois working in disadvantaged communities, as defined by federal guidelines. The Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) is administering the grants funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and providing technical assistance to awarded organizations.

“These forestry projects in communities across Illinois, such as Decatur, East St. Louis, Midlothian, Rockford, South Chicago, Virden and others, will boost green infrastructure and benefit residents for generations to come,” Koski said. “The improved canopy in these areas will also provide an economic boost over time—increased property values, improved shopping districts, reductions in energy costs and stormwater capture. The many urban forestry training and workforce development programs to be implemented through this funding are also essential.”

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Awarded organizations will collectively plant and care for more than 8,300 trees, prune more than 1,300 trees in need of maintenance, remove at least 240 dead, high-risk or invasive trees, and train 210 staff or community members in forestry work. Some projects also include the formation of tree inventory and management plans, in both urban and rural areas, to help increase efficiency and proactiveness in community forestry.

Among the grant recipients is the Douglas-Hart Foundation, which manages the Friendship Garden, Douglas-Hart Nature Center, and The Whiteside Garden in Coles County. The nonprofit was awarded $500,000 to plant 1,000 trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan with the City of Mattoon, hire a forestry apprentice, and support staff development and certifications in arboriculture.

“The Douglas-Hart Foundation is thrilled to lead efforts with the City of Mattoon to launch a tree equity program for our community,” said Douglas-Hart Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Day Tariq. “As a rural community surrounded by developed farmland, increasing tree canopy and nurturing green spaces are vital to the health and wellness of our community. This grant will help support those endeavors by creating tree-planting initiatives for not only residents but also businesses and city property as well, training staff on urban tree care, improving the work of the tree commission, and so much more.”

This grant funding will benefit Mattoon residents and greatly help with habitat improvement, including removing invasive species and planting oak and hickory trees at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center and Friendship Garden, she said.

“Studies show green communities, especially those with improved tree canopies, improve the quality of life for their residents in so many ways, and the Douglas-Hart Foundation appreciates the City of Mattoon partnering with us on this grant to achieve just that,” Day Tariq said.

Another grant recipient is the City of Clinton, awarded $47,500 to plant trees on public property, among other efforts.

“The Tree Equity Grant for Disadvantaged Communities will provide 30 new trees to public housing complexes and parks. The areas include playgrounds where the much-needed shade will benefit children during hot summer days,” said City of Clinton Tree Commission Chairman John Baker. “New informational signs to inform visitors of the species of trees and the names of tree donors will now be possible because of the funding. The grant also allows us to extend an employment opportunity to individuals with disabilities who will assist with the watering of the new trees.”

This is the second major round of federal funding administered by the Arboretum’s CRTI for urban and community forestry work. In June, the Arboretum awarded nearly $6.9 million in sub-grants, provided through federal urban and community forestry funding to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, for 22 urban and community forestry projects. Those 22 projects are led by government entities in priority communities throughout Illinois. Additional grants for community-based organizations in the City of Chicago will be announced in the coming weeks through CRTI’s Tree Ambassador Program partnership with the City of Chicago.

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (IL-6) led the Illinois delegation’s support for The Morton Arboretum to obtain this funding to benefit local communities.

“The transformative power of trees in our communities goes beyond beauty—they are vital for improving air quality, reducing summer heat, and strengthening infrastructure,” Casten said. “I’m proud to see federal funding coming to Illinois and I thank The Morton Arboretum for its leadership in convening public and private partners in this important initiative.”

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) also noted the importance of this federal funding for communities.

“Thanks to this funding and the efforts of The Morton Arboretum, we can increase the number of trees in our neighborhoods—helping reduce pollution and create more natural spaces for families to enjoy,” Budzinski said. “By adding more greenery, we can also lower temperatures in the hottest areas of our district, providing much-needed relief during the summer months. I look forward to seeing firsthand the positive impact this funding will have, making our communities greener, healthier, and more sustainable for generations to come.”

A complete list of awarded communities and organizations is available on the Arboretum’s website. Funding for this project was provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program. USDA and The Morton Arboretum are equal-opportunity providers and employers.

Urban and Community Forestry Sub-Grant Awardees

The following sub-grants are provided through urban and community forestry funding from the USDA Forest Service, administered by the Arboretum.

Tree Equity Grants for Disadvantaged Communities

1. City of Belleville: $181,967 to conduct a tree inventory and management plan, plant 200 trees, and work with Heartlands Conservancy for community engagement.
2. Village of Bensenville: $64,000 to plant 250 trees.
3. City of Berwyn: $157,100 to prune 400 trees, remove 75 dead or dying trees, remove invasive woody species, plant 300 trees, train staff, and conduct outreach and education in schools about the benefits of trees.
4. Berwyn Park District: $28,250 to plant 50 trees and prune at least 10 trees.
5. Boone County Conservation District: $97,600 to remove 18 acres of invasive woody and plant 300 trees.
6. Village of Broadview: $150,000 to plant 280 trees, remove 15 dead or dying trees and train five staff members in arboricultural best practices and arborist certifications through the Internal Society of Arboriculture.
7. Canal Shores: $67,300 to plant 200 native trees in a permaculture food forest, remove invasive woody species and hazardous or diseased trees, and conduct a tree inventory and management plan.
8. Village of Carpentersville: $129,147 to plant 100 trees, remove 4.5 acres of invasive woody species, remove dead and dying trees at Keith Andres Park, and conduct a tree inventory and management plan.
9. Chicago Heights Park District: $242,750 to plant 200 trees, perform priority tree and stump removals and pruning, and conduct a tree inventory and management plan.
10. City of Chicago Heights: $51,209 to plant 126 trees, including a food forest.
11. City of Clinton: $47,500 to plant 30 trees on public property and organize tree education events.
12. City of Darien: $100,000 to plant 75 to 100 trees.
13. Empowerment Opportunity Center: $147,300 to plant 100 trees on the Community Care Campus in Decatur.
14. City of DeKalb: $255,300 to plant 50 trees, prune and remove dead or diseased trees.
15. Douglas-Hart Foundation: $500,000 to plant 1,000 trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan with the City of Mattoon, hire a forestry apprentice, and support staff development and certifications in arboriculture.
16. Friends for a Natural South Chicago: $49,668 to plant 150 native fruit and nut trees in front yards of private property, plant and mulch an additional 50 fruit or nut trees in community gardens, and support pre-apprenticeship programs for local youth.
17. Greater Chatham Initiative: $499,365 to plant and maintain 400 trees, conduct a tree inventory in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, and hire and train staff, apprentices and interns for urban forestry work.
18. Heartlands Conservancy: $499,174 to plant 427 trees, remove 75 dead or hazardous trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan in partnership with the City of East St. Louis, East St. Louis Park District, and the Clean City Coalition, and organize education about tree maintenance for property owners.
19. Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation: $499,623 to plant approximately 1,000 trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan, and support urban forestry workforce development training.
20. Joliet Junior College: $74,112 to plant 56 trees, prune trees on campus, implement its Urban Forestry Program, and conduct a tree inventory and urban forest management plan.
21. Klehm Arboretum: $49,999 to plant 34 trees and remove 17 invasive trees.
22. Lake Forest Openlands: $142,500 to plant 47 trees with Waukegan Park District and perform educational workshops on natural area stewardship.
23. Lansdowne UP: $280,120 to plant 300 trees and develop community-involvement programs.
24. Lawrence Development Corp / North River Commission: $200,000 to plant 250 trees and develop a volunteer system for tree planting and maintenance.
25. City of Markham: $272,000 to plant 200 trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan, and train two staff members to become certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.
26. McCully Heritage Project: $93,200 to provide 10 student internships per year in environmental stewardship, restore up to at least 100 acres of forest through invasive woody species removal, and plant trees.
27. Midlothian Park District: $91,535 to plant 60 trees, prune trees, remove dead or dying trees, and conduct a tree inventory and management plan.
28. City of Moline: $143,400 to plant 450 trees and facilitate community educational events and outreach for the City’s urban and community forestry program.
29. Northern Illinois University: $475,478 to plant 450 shade and fruit trees and conduct a tree inventory and management plan.
30. Village of Palatine: $150,000 to plant approximately 300 trees and prune and remove hazardous and invasive trees.
31. Riverdale Park District: $75,426 to plant 40 trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan, and train staff in urban forestry.
32. City of Rockford: $499,150 to plant 300 trees, prune approximately 935 trees, update a tree inventory and management plan, and increase staff and urban forestry credentialing.
33. Village of Schiller Park: $75,000 to use contracted services to purchase and plant 100 trees.
34. Village of Summit: $500,000 to plant 400 trees, conduct a tree inventory and management plan, develop a tree ordinance, and train staff in urban forestry.
35. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $220,000 to plant 420 trees, provide tree-planting training for approximately 200 community members, and work with partner organizations from disadvantaged communities to complete grant work.
36. City of Virden: $90,382 to plant 62 trees in at least three community parks, including Center, West and East, and develop a tree inventory and ordinance.
37. West Chicago Park District: $299,911 to plant 210 trees, remove 56 invasive trees, prune hazardous trees, update a tree inventory and management plan, and enroll three staff members in the International Society of Arboriculture’s Certified Arborist Exam Prep Course.
38. City of West Chicago: $300,000 to plant 110 to 125 trees.
39. Wood Street Collective: $99,654 to plant 45 fruit and nut trees.