Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Program

HEALTHY URBAN TREE CANOPY PROGRAM

The Healthy Urban Tree Canopy (HUTC) Program is an initiative of Cuyahoga County to promote a healthy tree canopy in our county which has provided grant funds for tree planning, planting, and maintenance projects. It is a collaborative effort between the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, and Cuyahoga SWCD.

Since 2019 the HUTC grant program has awarded more than $4.75 million in funding support to municipalities, community development corporations, and other non-profits to help protect, restore, and maintain trees across Cuyahoga County. To date more than 11,000 new trees have been planted through the HUTC grant program.

PY 2026 HUTC Program

In 2025, the HUTC Program shifted from a reimbursable grant-based model to a contracted services model. In 2026, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), through resolution from its Board of Supervisors, will once again be administering the HUTC funds and executing contracts on behalf of program participants to perform tree planning, planting, and maintenance activities.

In PY 2026, $200,000 is allocated to support tree planning, planting, and maintenance activities throughout Cuyahoga County.

Eligible Cuyahoga County entities interested in implementing eligible tree planning, planting, or maintenance activities must submit a completed project application no later than 5:00pm on August 28th, 2026 through the online form linked below to be considered for participation in the PY 2026 HUTC Program. Cuyahoga SWCD will work directly with applicants selected for project funding to issue proposals to qualified vendors and execute contracts to implement project work. Interested applicants should consult the Applicant Manual for complete details. 

Apply here: PY2026 Application Form

Cuyahoga SWCD Application Assistance – Virtual Open Office Hours

Cuyahoga SWCD will host virtual Open Office hours via Zoom on Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. During the Open Office hours, Cuyahoga SWCD staff will be available to:

• Answer questions about the HUTC application and required documentation
• Discuss specific project details with applicants
• Provide guidance for navigating the Cuyahoga County Greenprint Explorer

Applicants interested in attending the virtual Open Office Hours must register here by 12:00pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.