MDC awards grant funding for community forest improvements

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently awarded $382,914 to Missouri communities through its Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant program. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, public schools and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands.

“Trees make life better for our cities and towns every day,” said MDC Community Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “TRIM grants help communities with tree inventory, pruning, planting, and programs that help keep our neighborhood trees healthy and thriving.”

Trees work in Missouri communities to provide an amazing number of benefits, from cleaning the air and water to reducing stress and helping children concentrate. Just like any other natural resource, it takes active involvement to keep community trees thriving.

“Tree inventories are an important way for communities to manage and plan for the future. You have to know not only where the trees are, but how to care for them. An inventory allows a community to thoughtfully plan work rather than responding to the latest disaster,” said Hinnah.

A tree inventory is particularly important to prepare for invasive pests such as emerald ash borers, which have been killing ash trees across the country. Several of this year’s grant recipients will use grant funds to assess and manage the ash trees in their communities.

MDC has awarded 35 grants this year. TRIM grant recipients for 2017 include:

• City of O’Fallon, $7,561, education, planting, removal
• St. Charles Parks and Recreation, $22,500, inventory, education
• Mount Mora Cemetery, $9,994 inventory, education, removal, pruning
• City of Glendale, $5,199, removal
• St. Charles Community College, $23,821, inventory, education, removal, pruning
• Northwest Missouri State University, $1,018, education
• City of Warrensburg, $10,000, education, removal
• University of Missouri, $4,924, education, removal
• City of Kansas City, $25,000, master plan
• Heartland Conservation Alliance, $20,810, education, inventory
• City of Peculiar, $4,518, education, planting, pruning
• City of Houston Lake, $2,394, inventory
• City of Grandview, $25,000, inventory
• Town of Grantwood Village, $10,000, inventory, pruning, removal
• City of Parkville, $6,101, removal, planting
• City of Des Peres, $9,000, inventory
• City of Sedalia, $9,939, inventory, planting
• Housing Authority of Jefferson City, $10,000, planting
• City of Columbia Street Department, $25,000, education, inventory
• City of Joplin, $10,000, pruning
• City of Washington, $22,883, inventory
• City of Sheldon, $6,034, planting, pruning, removal
• City of Velda Village Hills, $10,000, pruning
• City of Pine Lawn, $10,000, removal, pruning, planting, education
• City of Wildwood, $10,000, removal, planting
• City of Pasadena Hills, $9,315, removal, pruning
• City of Union, $8,970, education, inventory
• Deer Creek Watershed Alliance, $5,710, education, inventory, planting
• City of Pagedale, $10,000, removal
• City of Vinita Park, $10,000, removal
• Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, $1,609, education
• City of Bel-Nor, $10,000, removal, pruning, inventory
• City of Twin Oaks, $9,962, education
• City of Hanley Hills, $10,000, pruning
• City of Beverly Hills, $5,649, pruning, inventory, removal

For more information, visit MDC’s website at www.mdc.mo.gov/trim.