The Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Division of Forestry is now accepting urban forestry tree planting project proposals through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). The program encourages local governments to increase and enhance city tree populations.

"Trees provide so many benefits to our urban communities--including energy savings, stormwater mitigation, air quality improvement, and enhanced recreation," Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. "Our TAEP community tree planting grants increase the urban forest canopy by assisting municipalities with planting Tennessee-grown trees."

Local governments, private non-profit organizations, and educational institutions are eligible to apply. TAEP offers a cost-share program for tree planting on public property, rights-of-way, and private non-profit land. Funds cover half the cost of trees and shipping, contracted planting, mulch, tree-watering bags, tree labels, and acknowledgement signs.

Urban Forestry TAEP funds can also be used for tree planting on private property, but only within riparian areas. A riparian area is a 35-foot zone extending outward from the edge of a river, stream, or creek bank. Although riparian tree plantings are allowed on private property, grants are not available to individual landowners.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via Forestry.Nashville@tn.gov by 4:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 1, 2020.

Find more information at www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/urban.html.