2025 Project Canopy Assistance Grants

The Maine Bureau of Forestry is pleased to announce the availability of grants for community forestry projects under the Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Program. Through Project Canopy, a program by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Maine Forest Service, a total of $825,000 in grants will be offered, comprising $125,000 in Project Canopy Assistance grants and $700,000 in Urban and Community Forestry Restoration grants. These grants aim to support projects in the following categories:

Project Canopy Assistance Planning and Education

  • Maximum Award: $20,000
  • Projects support sustainable community forestry management, and efforts to increase awareness of the benefits of trees and forests.

Project Canopy Planting and Maintenance

  • Maximum Award: $15,000
  • Projects increase the health and livability of communities through proper tree planting and maintenance.

Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry

  • Maximum Award: $200,000
  • Projects support range of activities including urban and community tree canopy establishment and protection, urban wood utilization, urban food forests, local capacity building through workforce development, climate resiliency through tree planting, community tree nursery establishment, and building understanding to care for and manage community trees.

Applicants are highly encouraged to attend the previously recorded grant workshop Located here.  The grant workshop is web-based and covers topics including grant writing, project development, sustainable community forest management, and grant administration for both programs.  Additional Project Canopy and UCF Restoration grant office hours will be held 9-10 AM on September 17, October 1, and 15.

Application Deadline

Grant applications will be due to the MFS at 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Project Canopy Assistance grants require a 50% match from the grant recipient in cash or in-kind services. Urban and Community Forestry Restoration grants do not require any local match.

Funding Source

Project Canopy is funded by the USDA Forest Service Community Forestry Assistance Program. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program was authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (PL95-313) and revised by the 1990 Farm Bill (PL101-624) to promote natural resource management in populated areas and improve quality of life.

Learn More and Apply

In all its programs and activities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Those with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202)720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.