Framingham Awarded Community Forestry Grant

The Baker-Polito Administration announced $186,434 in Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants to 13 Massachusetts communities and non-profits, including the Town of Framingham.

The matching grants are offered to municipalities and non-profit groups in Massachusetts for the purpose of increasing a community’s tree capacity in order to maximize social, economic, and environmental quality.

The Town of Framinghm was awarded $1,575. The Town of Framingham plans to purchase 7 trees of suitable size and species and to plant them at a designated location with high soil volume and vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

“Trees have a major impact on quality of life in communities across the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Karen E. Spilka, who represents Framingham.

“It is important that state government continues to work with local government and non-profit partners to promote and protect the tree canopy within the Commonwealth’s communities,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “The Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants will give our partners essential funding to ensure our forests remain healthy for generations to come.”

The funds for the Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants are provided by the USDA Forest Service and the Massachusetts ReLeaf Trust Fund, and are administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

“Beautifying our neighborhoods and improving our green infrastructure are key for our health, our local economy and the environment. This grant will allow Framingham to manage our town’s tree resources in a way that protects the environment and builds a stronger community for the benefit of all of our residents,”said Spilka.

The Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants will assist in the following key areas:

• Building and strengthening citizen advocacy and action organizations;
• Developing and adopting tree and forest ordinances and policies;
• Securing or training professional staff;
• Developing and implementing an urban forestry management plan;
• Attaining a Tree City USA Award;
• Completing strategic community tree plantings and “Heritage Tree” care projects; and
• Other projects that are well-conceived and will result in sustained improvements to urban and community forestry management in other areas.nts.”