Trees are an important natural resource with a myriad of benefits to our communities and the public. In support of Cuyahoga County’s Sustainability Plan, County Executive Budish and Cuyahoga County Council are supporting a 5 year effort to help protect and restore the tree canopy.

One million dollars has been earmarked in 2019 for this program. Funds will be distributed through a grant process. https://www.countyplanning.us/services/grant-programs/healthy-urban-tree-canopy-grant-program/

Program Year 2022

We are excited to announce the launch of the Program Year 2022 Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant Program, which provides funds to protect and expand Cuyahoga County’s tree canopy. Please save the date, Thursday, February 10, at 10:00am, for the Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant Applicant Workshop. Registration for the virtual workshop can be found at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5d406edTS4WFxfK0LiX_wA. There are a variety of methodology changes for PY 2022, including revised scoring criteria. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend.

This grant program will provide funding for tree planting, planning, and maintenance projects, and is looking to expand tree planting in vacant and open parcels throughout the County. This competitive grant program is coordinated by the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Application materials will be posted to the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission website at https://www.countyplanning.us/2022hutcgrants prior to the workshop, no later than Thursday, January 27.

Brochures:

• Benefits of Trees
• Buying High Quality Trees
• Tree Selection and Placement
• Proper Planting and Care of a New Tree
• Proper Mulching Techniques

Helpful Links:

• Arbor Day Foundation - How To Plant Your Trees
• Find An Arborist
• National Tree Benefit Calculator
• Cleveland Tree Coalition - Take Action to Plant and Preserve Trees

Tree canopy is the layer of leaves, branches, and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above. Tree canopy provides many benefits to communities: improving water quality, reducing erosion, reducing stormwater runoff, saving energy, reducing air pollution, enhancing property values, providing wildlife habitat, facilitating social and educational opportunities, and providing aesthetic benefits. Trees are vital for many reasons such as reducing heat island effect and enhancing overall mental and physical health.

In his 2019 State of the County Address, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced a significant new program to expand the percentage of the urban tree canopy throughout Cuyahoga County. Cuyahoga County will contribute $5 million dollars over the next five years for planning, and to evaluate, remove unhealthy trees, maintain trees, and plant trees for a significantly improved tree canopy.

A competitive grant program has been established to complement the efforts of the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability and the strategies published in the Cuyahoga County Climate Change Action Plan to combat the deleterious effects of climate change and its impacts to residents. Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit project proposals that will address these impacts.

The purpose of this grant program is to increase tree canopy and thus help ameliorate the impacts of climate change in Cuyahoga County. The program goals are to:
• Protect existing tree canopy
• Expand tree canopy in areas that are vulnerable
• Establish new tree canopy

The Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant program will gather data about each project, monitor its success, and produce an annual report that will better inform project selection and funding for each successive round of funding.

Program Year 2022 Schedule

DATE* ACTIVITY

*All Dates Subject to Change