2016 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program

to establish sustainable urban and community forests, by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources, which, if well managed, improves the public’s health, well-being, economic vitality, and creates resilient ecosystems for present and future generations. The Council recommends urban and community forestry projects that have national or multi-state application and impact through the U.S. Forest Service’s competitive Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program. This year, the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) has identified three national grant categories: This Request for Proposals is to address the following priority issues: • Analysis and Solutions for Development and Redevelopment Impacts on Urban and Community Forests • Building Human Health Through Urban and Community Forestry • Climate Change and Its Impact on Trees and Water Detailed information about each category follows this section. Proposals are to meet the request and intent of each applicable category. Organizations, local governments, tribal agencies, and partnerships are encouraged to submit proposals that will demonstrate the reach, resources, and expertise needed to address the three priority issues in ways that will lead to meaningful, replicable results across the country. Potential Innovation grantees are should work collaboratively with other organizations and entities not traditionally involved in urban and community forestry. Applicants should consider multi-year projects and other sources of funds, which may include other Federal cooperative conservation sources. While other Federal dollars or technical support may contribute to the project, they may not be used to match these Federal grant program dollars. The grant review process takes about a year to review pre and full proposals once they are received. Applicants should note their start and end date accordingly on their SF424. Each category is separate. Please do not merge more than one category content or intent into one proposal, which can result in disqualification of the proposal. Applicants may submit separate pre-proposals for more than one category. Go to http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/nucfac.shtml for full information on the 2016 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant. Search [CFDA number: 10.675], or [Grant Opportunity No.: USDA-FS-UCF-01–2016]. The grant applications are to be submitted through www.grants.gov. Contact Nancy Stremple, Natural Resource Specialist, Executive Staff, National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, (NUCFAC) nstremple@fs.fed.us or your Forest Service Regional Urban Forestry Program Manager, if you are interested in applying and have any questions. The Forest Service Regional Urban forestry Coordinators are located at http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/contact_regional.shtml.