The Alabama Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, has launched "Trees4AL," a match-free tree planting grant aimed at benefiting disadvantaged areas in Alabama.

Grant awards range from $40,000 to $100,000.

This grant offers an opportunity to enhance tree canopies, providing shade, cleaner air and water, improved aesthetics and economic benefits at a minimal cost.

The initiative is part of Alabama’s $750,000 allocation from the $1.5 billion urban and community forestry investment funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. Eligible applicants include local governments, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, tribal entities and educational institutions.

The request for applications (RFA) opened on July 1 and will close Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. Money must be spent in Alabama for disadvantaged communities, as identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).

According to the CEJST, areas in Baldwin County, such as parts of Foley, Summerdale and North Baldwin, are considered disadvantaged and may qualify for the grant. More information and the RFA are available on the Alabama Forestry Commission's website at www.forestry.alabama.gov.

Projects meeting the grant criteria qualify for a matching funds waiver, with awardees fully reimbursed for tree planting. Up to 20% of the grant’s total value may be applied to administrative costs, and limited site preparation and concrete removal are allowed.

For more information, contact Dale Dickens, Urban Forestry Coordinator for the Alabama Forestry Commission, at dale.dickens@forestry.alabama.gov or (334) 467-7971.

The Alabama Forestry Commission's mission is to protect and sustain the state’s forest resources through stewardship and education, ensuring contributions to timber, wildlife, clean air and water and a healthy economy.

This project is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act through the Alabama Forestry Commission and the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program.