Project Grant 25DG11094200213

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) received a $500,000 Project Grant award dated January 29, 2026, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act Nursery Vegetation program (CFDA 10.736), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 9 - Eastern Region. The award supports capital improvements and equipment upgrades at the Vallonia State Tree Nursery to enhance reforestation capacity and operational efficiency. Specifically, the funding will support the construction of a new greenhouse facility for seedling grafting and the replacement of aging equipment, including a tractor and skid steer loader.

The project aligns with the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration and the Forest Service Reforestation Strategy, which prioritizes partnerships with states and tribes to accelerate reforestation efforts and expand the supply of high-quality reforestation materials. The Vallonia State Tree Nursery produces seedlings for private landowners to reforest areas affected by disasters, pests, and diseases, and to restore marginal agricultural land and riparian buffers. The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2029, and will directly support post-harvest and post-fire land management activities while enhancing the diversity and supply of reforestation materials necessary for future timber production and forest productivity.