"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now." ~Chinese Proverb
What is T.R.I.M.?
T.R.I.M. stands for Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance and is a competitve cost-share grant program provided and administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation in cooperation with the Missouri Community Forestry Council and the U.S. Forest Service. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance for the management, improvement or conservation of our community forests.
The TRIM program is focused on three primary goals:
- Assist communities throughout Missouri in taking an active role in either initiating or improving their efforts to care for their community forest.
- To encourage a sustainable, balanced and comprehensive community forestry program. Ideally this program would appoint a forestry board or committee consisting of a forestry professional, community members and city employees tasked with the development of a tree ordinance, maintenance of a tree inventory, and continued acquisition of funding for improvements to this program.
- Promote community forestry benefits through proper management of the trees in Missouri communities.
The program provides reimbursement of $1,000 to $10,000 to be used to assist eligible organizations in the management, improvement or conservation of trees on public lands.
Interested parties are required to submit a completed application form, which details project costs and funding sources, maps and drawings of the project site, a three-year maintenance plan for the project and a letter of approval from the governmental body owning the proposed project site. Applicants are also encouraged to attend a workshop to assist them in the grant process.
Projects receiving funding are selected on a competitive basis through a panel of judges. Grant recipients can receive up to 60 percent of the money needed for their project.
Who can apply?
All projects must be located on publicly owned Missouri property. The following groups may apply for a TRIM grant:
- All units of government
- Public schools
- Non-profit groups with appropriate permission documented. Such organizations must be 501(c)(3)'s with a federal identification number. Non-profit organzations must acquire permission from the appropriate municipality to perform the work.
What activities are eligible?
Grant funding may be used for a variety of activities provided they fit the program goals. Some of these include (but are not limited to):
- Development of a municipal tree ordinance
- Community tree management plans
- Community tree inventories
- Management of the emerald ash borer
- Training
- Purchase of tree care educational materials
- Removal of hazardous trees
The only way to find out is to APPLY!
