Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for, and if awarded, accept grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program to invest in forestry planning, planting, and management of the tree canopy throughout Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program is a technical, financial, and educational assistance program, delivering nature-based solutions to ensure a resilient and equitable tree canopy where more than 84 percent of Americans live; and
WHEREAS, The UCF Program assists forestry agencies and partner organizations in addressing and applying nature-based solutions to chronic and emergent economic, social, and environmental challenges in communities across the United States by providing direct funding to communities and especially to communities experiencing low urban tree canopy, dead and hazardous tree conditions, extreme heat and severe flooding, and limited awareness of or access to green job workforce to help them; and
WHEREAS, The UCF Program is providing up to $1 billion in grant opportunities through the Inflation Reduction Act - Urban & Community Forestry to fund increased and equitable access to urban tree canopy benefits, broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning and activities, and improved urban forest resilience to climate change throughout the country; and
WHERAS, State and local government organizations, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and public institutions of higher education are eligible for these UCF Funds with maximum available funding per organization of up to $50 million; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation is requesting permission to apply for said funding to support a variety of eligible forestry uses over the next 5 years, including, continuation and expansion of the forestry training and jobs program, increased...
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