Urban and Community Forestry Program (10.675)

Program

10.675 Urban and Community Forestry Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Forest Service

Authorization

Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, Title 16, Part 2105, Section 9, Public Law 95-313, 92 Stat. 365.

Program Number

10.675

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To plan for, establish, manage and protect trees, forests, green spaces and related natural resources in and adjacent to cities and towns. The urban forestry program provides ecosystem services, social and economic benefits and links governmental, private and grassroots organizations and resources to improve the quality of life in these cities and towns.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

To assist State Foresters, equivalent State agencies, interested members of the public and private non-profit organizations in urban and community forestry programs in cities and communities.

070a. To provide a national competitive urban and community forestry challenge cost share grant program to assist urban and community forestry efforts across the country and address strategic urban forestry-related issues and opportunities as identified by the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council. Total annual appropriations are reduced by approximately $1,000,000 to support activities under the national competitive challenge cost share grant program identified in 070a, above.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State Foresters or equivalent State agencies, interested members of the public, private non-profit organizations and others. All States, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and Guam, and other territories and possessions of the United States are eligible.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State Foresters or equivalent State agencies, local governments, tribes, and non-profit organizations, and other State, local and private agencies acting through State Foresters, equivalent State agencies or other official representatives as agreed by the State Forester, equivalent State agency, and the Secretary.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 For State and local governments, as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016.
83a. For the national competitive challenge cost share grant program. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars: No. A-87 for State and Local government, as implemented by 7 CFR part 3016; A-102, Grants and Agreements with State, Local and Tribal governments; A-21 Cost Principals for Educational Institutions; and A-110 Grants and Agreements with Universities, as applicable. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Area/Station/IITF offices provide states and territories with program funding advice each year. This program is excluded for coverage under 12372.
91a. For the national competitive challenge cost share grant program. A Request for Proposals (RFP) is advertised with the criteria and eligibility. The RFP is available in hard copy, is published in the Federal Register and is posted on www.grants.gov. An electronic mailing list is also maintained by the Washington Office Headquarters Staff. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. States and other eligible applicants prepare grant proposal narratives for submittal to Regional and Area Offices, accompanied by Form SF-424, SF-424(a) and SF-424(b) and other forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular A-102, as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016 (i.e., SF-424). Contact Regional, Area or Institute Office listed in http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/Regional_Offices.htm.
92a. For the national competitive challenge cost share grant program. Eligible applicants prepare grant proposal narratives for submittal to www.grants.gov or via electronic means or hardcopy to the Forest Service contact person noted on the RFP, accompanied by Form SF-424, SF-424(a) and SF-424(b) and other forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by the OMB Circulars.

Award Procedure

Established by the Washington, Regional, Area and Institute offices. http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/Regional_Offices.htm.
93a. For national competitive challenge cost share grant program. Established by the Washington Office.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Established by the Washington, Regional, Area, and Institute offices. http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/Regional_Offices.htm.
Range of Approval/Disapproval varies between Forest Service offices depending on availability of funding.
95a. For the national competitive challenge cost share grant program. Established by the Washington Office.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Amended SF-424 (a) with SF 424 application is required to amend the allotment amount or length of commitment, other requirements may be established by the Washington, Regional, Area or Institute offices.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: Applicant matching requirements are determined by the Washington, Regional and Area offices. If matching funds are required, the funds cannot come from Federal Sources. Cooperator matches may be cash, in-kind and non-cash contributions. Matching requriements may range from 0% to 50% of the total award amount.
101a. For the national competitive challenge cost share grant program. Applicant match requirements are determined by the Statutory authority which requires a 50:50 match. Matching funds cannot come from other federal sources. The non-Federal share of the match may be in the form of cash, services or in-kind contributions.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Electronic transfer of payments are required. Grants are normally awarded for a period of 12 months. A no cost extension justification must be received and approved by the Forest Service. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Recipients submit invoices based on actual expenditures on a monthly, quarterly or bi-annual basis as established in the award terms.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual accomplishment reports are required. No cash reports are required. For the national competitive challenge cost share grant program. Narrative progress reports are required at mid-year and year-end. SF-269s are required quarterly. Invoices should provide sufficient additional detail to explain the amount requested for reimbursement. Forest Service program managers will conduct program monitoring for awards under this CFDA.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Use of all funds will have to meet Federal and State audit requirements. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," non federal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

State and other generally accepted accounting systems are permissible, if acceptable to audit and reconciliation. All grantees need to maintain adequate systems for collecting and recording statistical data.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The program assisted 177,600,000 people living in 7,139 communities. The following national performance measures were used to measure how well communities are managing their urban forests: (1) hired professional staff, (2) adopted tree ordinances and policies, (3) implemented an urban forest management plan, and (4) established a local advocacy/advisory organization.
130a. The national competitive challenge cost share grant program. In 2008, the Council recommended and the Secretary approved eight national grants with a total project cost of $687,000. The Council conducted their second listening forum on Tropical Forestry. The Storms and Urban Forests special report of findings and recommendations, based on the FY 2007 Storms and Urban Forests listening session, was published and submitted to the Secretary. Many of the recommendations are being implemented. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1105-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $25,354,000; FY 09 est $23,912,000; FY 10 est not reported. - FY 2010 estimates are not available at this time.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

None.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

For all grant awards under this CFDA: OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-87, as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016, are applicable to State and local government grantees. Available online at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html.
http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. For Forest Service, State and Private Forestry office addresses and telephone numbers. Visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/Regional_Offices.htm.

Headquarters Office

Paul Ries 1400 Independence Avenue, SW MAILSTOP 1123, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: pries@fs.fed.us Phone: 202-205-1602 Fax: 202-690-5792

Web Site Address

http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Examples include but are not limited to planning for, establishing, managing and protecting trees, forests, green spaces and related natural resources in and adjacent to cities and towns. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Most grants are approved on the basis of negotiated targets or objectives to be achieved. UCF community grants are based on local needs and resources.