The project will involve the continuation of employment of two seasonal employees who will support the nursery's seed procurement program

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region awarded the Department of Environmental Conservation New York $160,000 on May 8, 2026, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act Nursery Vegetation program (CFDA 10.736) to continue employment of two seasonal employees supporting a seed procurement program through July 31, 2029.

The funded work includes maintenance of 125 acres of seed orchard and procurement areas; monitoring, collection, and processing of fruit and cone collections from private and public lands; proper storage of collections; conducting germination tests; electronic record-keeping of past and current seed data; and bolstering seed stock storage for future plantings. Performance occurs in New York.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act Nursery Vegetation program provides funding to state and tribal entities for modernizing tree seedling nursery and tree orchard facilities through capital improvements, equipment upgrades, and associated labor costs. Eligible recipients are state forestry agencies, equivalent state agencies, and federally recognized tribes. Grants are typically awarded for 12 to 36 months, and funding may cover salary, training, travel, and contract labor in seedling or seed production activities, provided all projects address increasing seed and seedling production or capacity.

Duties to include maintenance of 125 acres of seed orchard & procurement areas; monitor, collect, process fruit and cone collections from private & public lands; properly store collections; conduct germination tests; store past and current seed date electronically; and bolster seed stock storage for future plantings.