Hobgood and Rich Square are two of 19 communities in North Carolina chosen to share in a $5.6 million appropriation from the N.C. Forest Service.
The aim of the awards is to support urban and community forestry projects through the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program.
“This program aims to help municipalities reach a level of sustainable urban and community forestry management that matches their goals and capacity,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “North Carolina is known for its trees and green spaces. Maintaining and developing urban forest resources add to the beauty of our cities and towns and enhance the quality of living in our communities.”
Hobgood and Rich Square, as well as seven other communities, received project funding through the Climb to Tree City USA package. That package supports completion of select urban and community forestry activities to help emerging municipalities build a foundational urban and community forestry management structure and ultimately achieve Tree City USA designation.
Tree City USA is an annual national recognition program designed to raise awareness of the value of community trees, set foundational standards for communities of all sizes, and celebrate community improvement, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.
Elizabeth City, Gastonia, Hendersonville and High Point were awarded project funding through the Climb to Managing Community package, which funds tree inventories and assessments as well as management plans, helping Tree City USA communities meet tree planning and management needs.
Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington and Wilson received project funding through the Tree Maintenance and Planting package, which helps Tree City USA communities with completion of tree inventories to support tree maintenance and planting needs.
The city of Hamlet was awarded project funding through the Bad Tree Bounty Project, which helps a community identify, remove and replace invasive trees located on public property as well as enhance their urban and community forestry program.
Funding for these awards was made possible through three federal grant programs: the USDA Forest Service Consolidated Program Grant, Hurricane Helene Recovery and Inflation Reduction Act funding.
