MDC awards grant funding for community forest improvements

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently awarded $366,446 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, schools and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands.

“TRIM grants help communities with tree management-related activities that help keep neighborhood trees healthy and thriving,” said MDC Community Forestry Coordinator Russell Hinnah. “Grant funds are matched by each grant recipient to help with tree inventories, pruning, planting, removals, and educational programs.”

Trees in in Missouri cities and towns provide an amazing number of benefits. They reduce air and water pollution, impact heating and cooling costs, and increase real estate values. They can improve physical and mental health and are even associated with reduced crime rates. Trees and green spaces help get people outside, fostering active living and neighborhood pride.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has really shown us how valuable our outdoor spaces are for our physical and mental well-being, and trees are a huge part of that,” said Hinnah. “Whether you are relaxing with your family at a park or getting some exercise on a local trail, you are benefiting from well-managed trees this program supports.”

Many of this year’s grant recipients will use funding to conduct tree inventories, which are a critical first step in managing community forests. Counting the number of trees, tracking what species, and what condition the trees are in can help communities better plan for taking care of them.

MDC has awarded 41 grants this year. TRIM grant recipients for 2020 include:

City of Hermann—Education, Planting, $10,000
City of Gladstone—Removal, $10,000
County of Clay—Removal, Education, Planting, $10,000
City of Crestwood—Inventory, $10,000
City of Rolla—Inventory, Removal, $10,000
City of Joplin—Pruning, $10,000
Little Creek Nature Center—Inventory, Education, $5,750
City of Brentwood—Planting, $10,000
Louis/East Central MCFC—Education, $10,000
City of Kansas City—Inventory, $10,000
City of Ash Grove—Removal, Planting, $9,254
City of Perryville—Removal, Education, Planting, $10,000
City of Wildwood—Planting, $9,885
University of Missouri-Landscaping Services—Removal, Education, Planting, $10,000
City of Warrensburg– Removal, Education, Planting, $6,834
Springfield Tree City USA Advisory Committee—Nursery Establishment, $10,000
Heartland Conservation Association—Inventory, Education, $10,000
City of Glendale—Inventory, Removal, Planting, $8,041
Truman State University—Removal, Pruning, Planting, $10,000
City of Parkville—Removal, Pruning, $7,320
City of Sedalia—Inventory, Pruning, Education, Planting, $10,000
Viva Cuba, Inc.—Removal, Education, Planting, $10,000
City of Kirksville—Planting, $10,000
City of University City—Inventory, $9,437
City of Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation—Inventory, $4,875
City of Shrewsbury—Pruning, Education, Planting, $4,930
Northwest Missouri State University—Removal, Pruning, Planting, $9,811
City of Bridgeton—Inventory, $5,454
City of Manchester—Inventory, Education, Planting, $9,783
City of Farber—Inventory, Removal, Pruning, $4,341
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri—Education, $10,000
Poplar Bluff Park Department—Planting, $7,044
Bridging the Gap, Inc.—Education, Planting, $10,000
City of Bel-Nor—Removal, Pruning, Planting, $10,000
City of Liberty Parks & Rec Dept—Pruning, Education, $5,250
City of St. Charles Parks & Rec Dept—Removal, Pruning, $10,000
City of Ladue—Removal, Pruning, $10,000
Pasadena Park—Inventory, Removal, Pruning, Planting, $10,000
Pasadena Hills—Removal, Pruning, Planting, $10,000
Downtown Marceline—Removal, Education, Planting, $8,438
University of Missouri-St. Louis—Removal, Pruning, $10,000

For more information, visit MDC’s website at www.mdc.mo.gov/trim.