Ohio Plants Trees To Celebrate 200Th Birthday
Ohio communities can receive as much as $15,000 this year for local tree planting projects as part of Governor Bob Taft’s Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting Program. Applications are available through May 5 for approximately $300,000 in Urban Forestry Grants for tree planting efforts along public rights of way, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting Program is aimed at planting two million trees, one for each of Ohio’s school children, to celebrate this year’s 200th anniversary of Ohio statehood.
Administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, the grants are funded by a percentage of air pollution fines collected by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with communities providing a 50 percent match in local funds. To date, nearly 90 communities have received more than $1 million.
Through Ohio’s Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting Program, trees have been planted along roadways, on abandoned surface mine lands and on state wildlife areas.
Grant applications and guidelines can be obtained by calling the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry at 614-265-6707.