FY 22 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program | USDA FS UCF 010 2022

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS UCF 010 2022

The FY 22 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS UCF 010 2022; CFDA 10.675) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, designed to support urban and community forestry efforts that align with federal program authorities and national strategy. Projects must fit within the Urban and Community Forestry Program authorities established by Congress under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (Section 9) and must clearly align with Goal 7, Strategy B of the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026). In practical terms, applicants need to show that their proposed work advances nationally recognized urban forestry priorities and is consistent with how the Forest Service is authorized to provide assistance.

A central requirement of this opportunity is collaboration. Proposals must include at least two related partner organizations working together, and the application must include formal letters of partnership documenting those roles. Letters of support from additional stakeholders are optional but encouraged when they strengthen the case for the project, demonstrate broad buy-in, or show the ability to reach target communities and implement the work effectively. The program also emphasizes that project "messaging" should be tested and adaptable for use in other regions of the country, meaning applicants should design outreach or communications approaches that can be evaluated, refined, and potentially replicated nationally with evidence of successful engagement from intended audiences.

The Forest Service anticipated approximately $1,000,000 in total funding available (subject to final availability, application quality, agency priorities, and other considerations). The maximum award amount listed is $500,000, with an expectation of about five awards. Awards may be issued as grants or cooperative agreements. Funded projects are expected to be completed within a two-year performance period, so the work plan should be realistic and structured to deliver results on that timeline.

The program includes a cost-share requirement: grant funds must be matched at least dollar-for-dollar with non-federal contributions. The match can be cash or allowable non-federal in-kind support, including donated services, volunteer time, and other private or public (non-federal) contributions. Because the program identifies this as a high priority, there is some flexibility under special circumstances to request a reduced match, but applicants must provide a clear justification and supporting explanation within the application materials to be considered.

Federal participation is allowed but restricted in specific ways. Other federal funding or technical assistance may support the overall project, but federal contributions cannot be counted as the required non-federal match for this program. In addition, these Urban and Community Forestry grant dollars cannot be used to pay for federal employee salaries, travel, per diem, or similar costs. If federal agencies are involved as partners, they must provide a letter of support confirming that their role is pro bono (in-kind support that does not draw on these grant funds).

Applications were submitted online through the program portal at https://ucfgrants2022.urbanandcommunityforests.org, and prospective awardees were required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/content/home. The notice advises allowing at least two weeks to establish or renew SAM registration, which is a common administrative requirement that can delay eligibility if not handled early. Applicants also needed to ensure that any indirect cost rate documentation, if applicable to their organization, was current at the time of application. The opportunity was posted on February 2, 2022, with an original closing date of April 8, 2022.

Eligible applicants included a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, reflecting the community-based nature of urban forestry work. Eligible organizations included state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). This broad eligibility is intended to allow local governments, educational institutions, tribes, and community organizations to lead or co-lead projects that build partnerships and create scalable, nationally relevant approaches to urban and community forestry.

• The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the environment, natural resources, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 22 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.675.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 02, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 08, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA FS UCF 010 2022

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