MDC awards grants for community forestry

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News from the region
Statewide
Published Date
10/11/2016
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently awarded $380,754 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, public schools and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands.

“Trees make life better for our cities and towns every day,” said MDC Community Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “TRIM grants help communities with tree inventory, pruning, planting, and programs that help keep our neighborhood trees healthy and thriving.”

Trees work in Missouri communities to provide an amazing number of benefits, from cleaning the air and water to reducing stress and helping children concentrate. Just like any other natural resource, it takes active involvement to keep community trees thriving.

“Tree inventories are an important way for communities to manage and plan for the future. You have to know not only where the trees are, but how to care for them. An inventory allows a community to thoughtfully plan work rather than responding to the latest disaster,” said Hinnah.

Inventory is particularly important to prepare for invasive pests such as emerald ash borers, which have been killing ash trees across the country. Several of this year’s grant recipients will use grant funds to assess and manage the ash trees in their communities.

MDC has awarded 36 grants this year. TRIM grant recipients for 2016 are:

  • St. Louis Community College – Meramec, $9,971, inventory
  • Missouri Botanical Garden, $10,000, inventory for City of Rock Hill
  • City of North Kansas City, $25,000, inventory, education
  • Jefferson City Park & Recreation, $22,511, inventory, removal, education
  • City of Cameron, $10,000, inventory
  • City of Wentzville, $17,385, inventory
  • City of Joplin, $25,000, inventory
  • City of St. Louis Forestry, $25,000, inventory
  • City of Sedalia, $10,000, inventory, education
  • City of Pleasant Hill, $10,000, inventory
  • City of Sturgeon Parks & Trees, $10,000, removal, planting
  • Heartland Conservation Alliance, $10,000, inventory, education
  • City of Manchester, $6,399, ordinance development
  • Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, $10,000, tree inventory digital app development
  • City of Kirkwood, $10,000, inventory
  • City of Elsberry, $10,000, removal, pruning, planting
  • Tower Grove Park, $8,925, removal
  • City of Pine Lawn, $10,000, removal, pruning
  • City of Liberty, $10,000, removal, education, planting
  • City of Warrensburg, $10,000, removal
  • City of Bel-Nor, $5,475, removal, education
  • City of Gladstone, $9,521, pruning
  • Jefferson Farm and Garden, $9,470, education, planting
  • City of Hannibal, $992, education
  • City of Old Monroe, $6,000, removal, pruning, planting
  • City of Wildwood, $10,000, removal, planting
  • City of Branson, $8,640, removal
  • City of Parkville, $10,000, removal, pruning, planting
  • City of Osage Beach, $1,600, planting
  • City of Lake Saint Louis, $10,000, education
  • St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities Department, $2,972, planting
  • Columbia Public Schools, $9,918, removal, pruning, education, planting
  • City of Glendale, $5,974, removal, pruning
  • City of Hermann, $10,000, removal, pruning
  • City of O'Fallon, $10,000, education, planting
  • City of Olivette, $10,000, pruning

For more information, visit MDC’s website at www.mdc.mo.gov and search “TRIM Grants.”