Inflation reduction act restoring and enhancing tree canopy for resilience equity and engagement in toledo

The City of Toledo received a $6,098,294 federal Project Grant from the USDA Forest Service under the Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program (CFDA 10.727). The award, with a performance period from April 2024 to February 2029, will fund comprehensive urban forestry initiatives focused on planning, establishing, managing, and protecting trees, forests, green spaces, and related natural resources in the city. Key activities include tree planting, ecosystem restoration, conservation planning, workforce development, and educational outreach to increase tree canopy cover and improve environmental conditions, with a particular emphasis on advancing environmental justice in underserved areas.

As a sub-award under the grant, the Woodlawn Foundation will partner with the City of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools to develop a youth urban forestry curriculum and recruit 56 high school students from disadvantaged communities for an 8-10 week summer training program. The students will receive classroom and field lessons on topics such as tree identification, forest biology, and tree care, as well as hands-on experience in planting, maintenance, health diagnosis, pruning, and removal.