The board established the healthy tree canopy grants program to provide funding to cities, affordable housing providers, schools, and non-profits to enhance the county’s tree canopy. The goals of the grants are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and diseases; promote the development of a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy; and support efforts to educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees. To date, 96 grants have been awarded to 21 affordable housing projects, 40 city projects, 16 school projects, and 19 non-profit projects.

Trees provide many benefits, including improving air quality by absorbing fine particulate matter and other pollutants and intercepting stormwater runoff. Trees also provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, reduce stress, and increase property values.

The grants also build capacity of local municipalities to improve the community forest. The effects of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) are overwhelming local municipalities’ financial and staff capabilities. The grants not only remove ash trees, but support replacement of the lost trees and community engagement on the importance of trees and tree care.

The grants also help reduce environmental, health, and economic disparities. The county’s research identified a correlation between tree canopy deficient areas and areas of disparities in air quality, health, income, and housing. This analysis informed the development of a tree planting priorities map to identify areas of focus for a more equitable tree canopy (see attachment 1). Twelve of these 20 projects will fund canopy improvements in medium and high priority areas.

Environment and Energy solicited proposals in April 2022 and conducted outreach to potential grant applicants during the request for proposal process. Staff led direct outreach efforts to affordable housing providers, schools, non-profits, and cities. A committee of representatives from Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota reviewed applications. Applications were evaluated on project need, positive impacts to tree prioritization areas, the potential for tree canopy enhancements, and eligibility aligned with grant guidelines.

Funding for the grants comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. This request seeks approval for grantees to incur costs after the board approval date, with reimbursements being paid upon execution of the grant agreements.

Current Request: This request is to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate 20 Healthy Tree Canopy Grant agreements, during the period of September 15, 2022 through December 1, 2023, with the combined total not to exceed $390,600. Board authorization is required because several proposed grantees have other contracts with the county that exceed $100,000.

The tree canopy improvement grants are summarized below.

Cities

• Brooklyn Park – $50,000 to remove and replace 38 ash trees, stock gravel bed with bareroot trees, conduct EAB education, and hold volunteer tree planting events
• Champlin – $25,630 to remove and replace 45 ash trees
• Crystal – $50,000 to remove 15 ash trees and plant 45 replacement trees
• Eden Prairie – $40,093 to create education signage, remove and replace 60 ash trees
• Excelsior – $42,500 to create an urban forestry management plan and EAB management plan; treat ash trees; and plant trees via contractors and volunteers
• New Hope – $37,000 to purchase forestry equipment, remove and replace at least 20 ash trees
• Orono – $5,000 to complete public tree inventory

Affordable Housing

• Aeon –$20,000 to remove at least 4 ash trees, plant 10 replacement trees in Richfield
• Boisclair Corporation - $17,980 to remove 16 ash trees at PennPlace in Bloomington and plant 16 replacement trees
• Cedar Riverside Limited Partnership – $11,930 to plant 24 trees to enhance a park-like greenspace at Cedar Riverside apartments in Minneapolis, and support residents to maintain the trees
• Little Earth Residents Association Inc – $11,650 to plant and maintain 10 trees in the Little Earth community in Minneapolis

Non-profits/Schools

• Special School District 1 – $10,000 to plant 50 trees across six different Minneapolis school properties
• The Blake School – $20,000 to remove 33 ash trees, treat 14 ash trees, and plant 34 replacement trees in two projects (Hopkins and Minneapolis campuses)
• Dayton Community Foundation – $3,096 to hold an Arbor Day celebration event in the city of Dayton
• FamilyWise Services – $6,380 to plant 10 trees in continuation of stormwater and raingarden infrastructure in Minneapolis
• Gethsemane Lutheran Church – $9,341 to remove 4 ash trees and plant 6 replacement trees in Hopkins
• Vibrant and Safe Downtown – $10,000 to plant 30 trees in Minneapolis, conduct outreach and engagement, and create an educational video about the project
• Tree Trust – $10,000 to hold a series of educational tree events across Hennepin County
• Young Men’s Christian Association of the North – $10,000 to engage with campers and plant trees to diversify the tree canopy on its campgrounds in Minnetrista and Loretto

Impact/Outcomes: The tree canopy improvement grants will promote a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy. The grants will result in more than 435 trees planted, that when mature will intercept 600,000 gallons of stormwater and 21,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Further, the grants will:

• Advance the county’s climate action goals to sequester carbon, mitigate increased rainfall, and reduce the urban heat island effect from more extreme heat.
• Improve livability and reduce disparities by planting trees in neighborhoods throughout the county experiencing disproportionate economic, environmental, and health impacts.
• Fund the collection of data through tree inventories, which is critical to start responding to EAB.
• Mitigate the effects of tree pests and pathogens by improving municipal forestry capacity.
• Educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts.