Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant Program Application Guidance

The following information is provided as a guide for completing an application for an Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grant. The information is intended to:

Determine if your organization is eligible to apply for this grant program.
Provide guidance on how to complete the application (Form #8700-321).

Minimum Requirements To Apply For An Urban Forest Catastrophic Storm Grant

Note: "Catastrophic storm event" means snow, ice, hail, wind or tornado of sufficient ferocity to cause damage to urban forests. Catastrophic storm event does not include forest fires, drought, insect infestations or disease or water saturation due to flooding.

Eligible applicants must be a: Wisconsin city, village, town, county, tribal government or non-profit 501(c)(3) organization working with an eligible organization.
Damage to an urban forest must have occurred as a direct result of a catastrophic storm event* for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency under s. 166.03, Stats. The damage must be within the geographic area of the designated state of emergency. To determine if your community falls within a declared state of emergency, contact your county’s Emergency Management Director, or by calling the statewide Wisconsin Emergency Management office at 608-242-3232. State of emergency declarations are also posted on the Office of the Governor website; see Executive Orders.
Damage to an urban area must have occurred in an area with a minimum of 100 residents/square mile. The Department determines residential density by using annual population density statistics provided by the DOA Demographic Services Center. This data is based on U.S. Census Bureau data available on their website; see DOA Wisconsin Geography and Maps.

Application Form Instructions

The following are instructions on how to complete the Urban Forest Catastrophic Storm Grant application (Form #8001-321). Applications must be postmarked (or received electronically by midnight) no later than 60 days from the date of emergency declaration.

Electronic format is preferred. Email signed application and associated attachments to DNRUrbanForestryGrants@wisconsin.gov. Mail or fax hard copies to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Urban Forestry Grant Manager
518 West Somo Ave.
Tomahawk, WI 54487

Section 1: Applicant Information

Provide the Applicant and Authorized Representative information. The authorized representative must be an official or employee of the municipality, tribal government or non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Authorized Representative is the person specifically authorized by resolution of the applicant’s governing body to file the urban forestry catastrophic storm grant application on behalf of the Applicant. An authorizing resolution designating a representative to file an application is required.

Section 2: Estimate Of Urban Forest Storm Damage

Provide an estimate of the extent, magnitude and severity of urban forest damage.

Question 1

Provide the totals for the following within your community boundary: total square miles, estimated total square miles of the damaged area, total street miles and estimated total damaged street miles. Please indicate the method used to obtain these totals. Submit a map of the community showing the roads and damaged areas. GIS aerial photo maps are preferred and may be obtained from your County or downloaded off the internet. Highlight on the map those portions of the community where damage has occurred. Be as accurate as possible when identifying the damaged areas.

Question 2

Provide the number and sizes of trees per class that require removal within the damaged area(s). Measure at 4½ feet above ground. If using a standard tape measure, measure the circumference or perimeter of the tree at this height, then divide the measurement by 3.14 to determine the diameter. Trees still standing, leaning or tipped that have 50% or more of their branches removed or damaged are eligible for removal.

Section 3: Grant Request For Urban Forestry Storm Damage And Other Financial Support

This section covers funding estimations and sources.

Question 1

Estimate the amount of funding you will request and how those funds will be used. Cost estimates should only include work to be performed within 12 months of the date the governor declared a state of emergency.

For this grant program, no local share – also called match – is required; however, funding requests for tree removal, restoration and/or replacement will not be considered if less than $4,000 in total. Cost estimates may exceed $50,000; however, the maximum grant award is $50,000. A 50% advanced payment is available.

Question 2

List other funding sources requested or received. Provide the names of other funding providers and what funds have been requested.

Section 4: Certification

The authorized representative must sign and date the application and submit with a map, resolution and other relevant attachments.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications as quickly as possible as grant awards are issued for a maximum period of one year from the date of the Governor’s declaration of emergency.

Additional Resources

Further information about this and other Urban Forestry grants is available on our main Grants page. For questions and assistance, contact your Urban Forestry Coordinator or the Urban Forestry Financing Specialist.