The Missouri Department of Conservation has awarded grants for community forestry which includes funding for the St. Joseph Parks Department.
MDC recently awarded $380,754 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, public schools and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands.
“Trees make life better for our cities and towns every day,” said MDC Community Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “TRIM grants help communities with tree inventory, pruning, planting, and programs that help keep our neighborhood trees healthy and thriving.”
The St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities Department was awarded $2,972 for planting.
MDC said trees work in Missouri communities to provide an amazing number of benefits, from cleaning the air and water to reducing stress and helping children concentrate. Just like any other natural resource, it takes active involvement to keep community trees thriving.
“Tree inventories are an important way for communities to manage and plan for the future. You have to know not only where the trees are, but how to care for them. An inventory allows a community to thoughtfully plan work rather than responding to the latest disaster,” said Hinnah.
MDC has awarded 36 grants this year. The full TRIM grant recipients for 2016 are:
St. Louis Community College – Meramec, $9,971, inventory
Missouri Botanical Garden, $10,000, inventory for City of Rock Hill
City of North Kansas City, $25,000, inventory, education
Jefferson City Park & Recreation, $22,511, inventory, removal, education
City of Cameron, $10,000, inventory
City of Wentzville, $17,385, inventory
City of Joplin, $25,000, inventory
City of St. Louis Forestry, $25,000, inventory
City of Sedalia, $10,000, inventory, education
City of Pleasant Hill, $10,000, inventory
City of Sturgeon Parks & Trees, $10,000, removal, planting
Heartland Conservation Alliance, $10,000, inventory, education
City of Manchester, $6,399, ordinance development
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, $10,000, tree inventory digital app development
City of Kirkwood, $10,000, inventory
City of Elsberry, $10,000, removal, pruning, planting
Tower Grove Park, $8,925, removal
City of Pine Lawn, $10,000, removal, pruning
City of Liberty, $10,000, removal, education, planting
City of Warrensburg, $10,000, removal
City of Bel-Nor, $5,475, removal, education
City of Gladstone, $9,521, pruning
Jefferson Farm and Garden, $9,470, education, planting
City of Hannibal, $992, education
City of Old Monroe, $6,000, removal, pruning, planting
City of Wildwood, $10,000, removal, planting
City of Branson, $8,640, removal
City of Parkville, $10,000, removal, pruning, planting
City of Osage Beach, $1,600, planting
City of Lake Saint Louis, $10,000, education
St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities Department, $2,972, planting
Columbia Public Schools, $9,918, removal, pruning, education, planting
City of Glendale, $5,974, removal, pruning
City of Hermann, $10,000, removal, pruning
City of O’Fallon, $10,000, education, planting
City of Olivette, $10,000, pruning