June 26, 2025 -COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Eighteen Texas municipalities, schools and non-profit organizations were awarded grant funding through Texas A&M Forest Service’s Community Forestry Grants program this month, totaling over $4 million.
Established in 2022, the Community Forestry Grants program provides funding to help Texans address local challenges through urban forestry investments and develop nature-based solutions that support healthier, more resilient and livable communities.
“Texas has 1.2 million acres of urban and community tree canopy, directly impacting the health and wellbeing of Texans,” said Alison Fulton, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Urban Ecologist. “With these grants, communities are able to strategically expand tree canopy coverage to help reduce heat related health risks, improve air and water quality and strengthen local infrastructure.”
Texas urban and community tree canopies generate over $6.1 billion in annual ecosystem services and provide vital support for local economies and residents.
“These projects will also support economic growth by creating jobs, increasing property values and reducing public costs through stormwater management and energy savings,” said Fulton.
The 2025 Community Forestry Grants program awarded grants across six categories. Each category addresses community needs through expanding and maintaining tree canopy.
One of the largest grant categories is the community greening transformation grant, aiding recipients in tree planting and giveaway events to provide at least 5,000 trees for their community to create placemaking through canopy expansion. This grant also provides tree care training to residents to better manage canopy on their properties and raise the collective community knowledge of forest management.
Awarded in the category of community greening transformations was Region One Education Service Center, Edinburg, $1,181,667; City of Pharr Parks and Recreation, $1,181,666; and City of Longview, $1,181,667.
Awarded in the category of community resiliency was Austin Independent School District, $50,000.
Awarded in the category of human health improvement and accessibility was El Centro de Corazon Community Health Center, Houston, $50,000.
Awarded in the category of workforce development was TreeFolks, Del Valle, $50,000; and Partners for Education, Agriculture, & Sustainability, Austin, $50,000.
Awarded in the category of tree planting and maintenance was City of Harlingen, $20,000; Gardopia Gardens, San Antonio, $20,000; Sewa International, Inc., Houston, $20,000; The Trail Conservancy, Austin, $17,968; Greens Bayou, Houston, $20,000; Tarrant Regional Water District, $20,000; El Paso County, $20,000; City of Burleson, $20,000; The Alief Super Neighborhood Council, Houston, $20,000; and City of New Fairview, $9,000.
Grants are reimbursement-based, and recipients will begin their projects in August 2025.
Funding for the grants program is provided in part through the USDA Forest Service Community Forestry Program.
The Texas A&M Forest Service Community Forestry Program helps build local capacity for communities to develop sustainable programs that provide Texans with healthy trees and forests. This program offers training, workshops, online courses and assistance to local governments to help manage urban and community forests.
Learn more about community and urban forestry in Texas here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/forest-land/community-forestry/.
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