Emerald Ash Borer Municipal Planning Grants Available

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation’s Urban & Community Forestry Program (VT UCF), in partnership with the University of Vermont Extension, is offering grants to support efforts to prepare for and manage the impacts of emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB is a destructive and invasive forest pest that feeds on all species of ash trees, killing over 99% within four years of infestation. The state's forested land is made up of about 5% ash, yet up to 50% of downtown trees in Vermont are ash. All said, Vermont is home to an estimated 160 million ash trees. EAB is now confirmed in Orange, Washington, Caledonia, Grand Isle, and Bennington Counties. Communities statewide are encouraged to prepare to manage the decline of ash trees and the future of urban tree canopy without ash. 

Grant applications are due January 31, 2019

Available Funds

$40,000 in cost-share grants are available for 2019. The maximum funding for proposals is $2,000. These funds will be distributed through a competitive grant review and selection process.

Eligible Project Components

Projects must relate to municipal EAB planning and take place in Vermont and may consist of one or more of the following program components:

  • Ash tree inventories;
  • Plan development;
  • Public outreach & program development;
  • Monitoring or surveying efforts for EAB;
  • Ash tree assessments; and/or
  • Replanting and restoration.

These grants support planning and management but do not include tree removal or chemical treatment.

Grant Documents

Grant Overview 

Grant Application- The application is in PDF, if you need a different format, let us know.

For more information or assistance, contact the VT UCF staff listed below.