Urban and community forest improvement program inflation reduction act

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc. (SFI) was awarded a $5,000,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service under the Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program (CFDA 10.727). This federal grant program funds projects that plan, establish, manage, and protect trees, forests, green spaces, and related natural resources in urban and community settings, with a focus on advancing environmental justice in underserved areas. Through this Cooperative Agreement, SFI will provide critical services in urban and community forestry, wood utilization, and forest habitat improvement, targeting underserved and disadvantaged populations. Additionally, SFI was awarded a $527,848 project grant from the USDA Forest Service R9-Eastern Region to provide technical assistance on new and emerging wood utilization technologies and products, specifically focusing on advancing social impact using mass timber in industrial building types. As a sub-recipient of grants from the National Fish And Wildlife Foundation, SFI has also worked to improve forest habitat for bird species, including projects in West Virginia to engage landowners in implementing dynamic forest block management.