The Community Forestry Catalyst Fund (“CF2”) welcomes proposals that directly support tree planting projects or increase the capacity of organizations to scale up their tree planting and maintenance initiatives in overburdened, underserved communities across the state. The goal of the CF2 program is to reduce barriers to tree planting and provide local partners with flexible access to a source of funds that can be leveraged to secure additional resources without requiring matching funds.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is made possible by Inflation Reduction Action Urban and Community Forestry funding from the USDA Forest Service.
Status:
The application period is currently closed. More details about Cohort 4 will be released soon.
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What projects are eligible for CF2 awards?
Projects selected for funding must directly or indirectly result in trees being planted in overburdened, underserved communities across the state. To determine if your project is located within, or serves, applicable disadvantaged communities it must be identified in the Inflation Reduction Act Disadvantaged Communities Map, available in the toolbar.
100 percent of work must take place in, or benefit, disadvantaged communities and, therefore, match is waived. This match waiver must be passed on to any sub-awardees.
Applications may be submitted under Tracks A & B together, but applications under Track C may not be combined with another Track.
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Track A: Site Readiness. Example activities include, but are not limited to: stump removal, hazardous tree removal, vegetation removal, concrete removal leading to replacement tree planting.
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Track B: Implementation. Tree planting projects require pre-application technical assistance from the Maryland Forest Service or an authorized representative from one of the 5 Million Trees for Maryland partnership agencies. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the sidebar for more information about project eligibility.
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Track C: Capacity Building. Example activities include, but are not limited to: staff or contractual support, workforce development, expansion or creation of new pilot programming.
How much can be awarded?
The Maryland Forest Service welcomes proposals spanning a broad range of costs from eligible entities working at a community, municipal, regional, and watershed scales. The minimum and maximum funding amount for projects are listed below, by track:
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Track A: minimum: $5,000 / maximum: $50,000
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Track B: minimum: $5,000 / maximum: $50,000
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Track C: minimum: $5,000 / maximum: $250,000 per year
Who is eligible to apply?
Entities eligible to apply include:
- Local government entity
- Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations as defined in 25 USC 5304 (l) and operating within the United States, or its territories
- Non-profit organizations
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Community Based Organization, defined as a public organization that supports and/or represents a community and/or certain populations within a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders
Grant Application Process:
Community Forestry Catalyst Fund applications are all submitted though an online system. If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the CBT Program Officer, Samara Pyfrom at 410-974-2941, ext. 147 or at
[email protected].
Awarded Projects:
- Audubon Mid-Atlantic
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Overview:
Establishes a community-centered framework for restoring degraded urban forests in Baltimore City, combining habitat enhancement with improved public access. The project includes research partnerships with UMBC and local schools and emphasizes the design of welcoming forest edges and trails. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Increased biodiversity, improved forest health, and a replicable model for integrating restoration with community use.
- Baltimore City Recreation & Parks – Forestry Division
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Overview:
Advances the Forest Health and Deer Management initiative to improve forest regeneration and ecosystem health by addressing deer impacts and strengthening monitoring of urban forest conditions. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
More resilient understory conditions, higher survival of plantings, and a long-term management framework for urban forest health.
- Baltimore Green Space
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Overview:
Builds long-term stewardship capacity across multiple forest sites by equipping residents with monitoring tools, restoration training, and educational resources to support community-led conservation. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Sustained protection of urban green spaces, increased technical capacity among stewards, and stronger community networks.
- Corazón Latino
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Overview:
Implements the Nuestras Raíces, Nuestros Árboles initiative to expand participation in urban forestry through bilingual outreach, training programs, and partnerships that create pathways to green careers. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Greater community engagement, a more diverse forestry workforce, and expanded access to environmental stewardship opportunities.
- Resilience Authority of Charles County
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Overview:
Operates the Youth Tree Corps, providing paid employment and hands-on training for high school students while expanding tree canopy in communities most vulnerable to heat and flooding. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Improved local climate resilience, successful establishment of new trees, and workforce development for youth.
- Temple X
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Overview:
Implements the Baltimore Forest Schools initiative to train residents in forest stewardship, monitoring, and advocacy while exploring opportunities to utilize urban wood as a local economic resource. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
A sustainable stewardship model, increased community leadership, and insights into local wood utilization strategies.
- ShoreRivers
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Overview:
Improves forest health and community access in Easton through invasive vine removal, site preparation, and community engagement in urban forestry education. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Healthier tree canopy, sustained environmental benefits, and stronger multi-generational stewardship.
- Blue Water Baltimore
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Overview:
Supports tree care and maintenance for more than 1,600 trees in underserved neighborhoods while providing workforce training and pathways into the arboriculture field. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Higher survival rates, improved neighborhood conditions, and successful job placement for participants.
- Unified Wood Economy
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Overview:
Conducts a regional analysis of supply chains and markets to assess the feasibility of a circular urban wood economy that transforms salvaged timber into usable products. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
A roadmap for urban wood utilization, reduced waste, and new economic opportunities.
- Mobilize Frederick
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Overview:
Implements the Cooler Neighborhoods Project, combining community outreach, workforce training, and strategic planting to increase canopy coverage and reduce urban heat in priority neighborhoods. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Expanded canopy, measurable temperature reductions, and increased public awareness of urban forest benefits.
- Howard EcoWorks
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Overview:
Integrates urban forestry training into existing green jobs programs, expanding education and hands-on experience in tree care and forest management across the region. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
A larger skilled workforce and improved forest conditions in target communities.
- Grow Home
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Overview:
Implements the Baltimore Climate Crew initiative, training residents to install and maintain trees while co-developing community greening plans focused on heat and flood resilience. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Enhanced neighborhood resilience, expanded workforce capacity, and successful tree establishment.
- Midtown Community Business District
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Overview:
Operates the Midtown Tree Steward Program, providing professional maintenance, annual tree audits, and training while piloting QR-based systems to track tree care needs. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Improved tree health, better inventory management, and increased community stewardship.
- Baltimore City Recreation & Parks – Camp Small
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Overview:
Expands operations at Baltimore’s wood reuse facility to process salvaged trees into lumber and mulch while supporting workforce training in material reuse and yard operations. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Increased processing capacity, reduced waste, and expanded access to locally sourced wood products.
- Maryland Forestry Foundation
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Overview:
Provides statewide coordination, grant administration, and technical support to ensure consistent implementation and monitoring across forestry initiatives. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Stronger program alignment, improved data collection, and more effective delivery of forestry investments.
- Baltimore Green Space (Phase II)
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Overview:
Builds on earlier work to sustain stewardship at 11 priority forest sites through expanded monitoring, advanced training, and continued community engagement. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Long-term site protection, enhanced technical stewardship capacity, and continued network growth.
- Resilience Authority of Charles County (Phase II)
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Overview:
Expands the Youth Tree Corps into year-round programming, supporting ongoing planting and maintenance at schools and parks serving disadvantaged communities. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Increased canopy coverage, improved public spaces, and continued workforce development.
- Audubon Mid-Atlantic (Phase II)
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Overview:
Implements community-centered forest restoration in Farring Baybrook Park and surrounding neighborhoods through habitat restoration, trail enhancements, bilingual signage, and educational programming developed with local partners. The project also builds community capacity to monitor birds and forest conditions. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Restored urban forest habitat, increased canopy and biodiversity, improved park accessibility, and stronger community stewardship.
- Joe’s Movement Emporium / World Arts Focus
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Overview:
Advances community greening at Evergreen Cemetery in Bladensburg by combining creative placemaking with ecological restoration. Activities include invasive removal, tree and native plant installation, and site improvements to increase access to this historic landscape. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Improved habitat and canopy, enhanced community access to a historic green space, and strengthened alignment with local sustainability goals.
- The 6th Branch
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Overview:
Expands the Urban Canopy Program in East Baltimore to increase tree coverage while providing workforce training through the TREE program and BRANCH apprenticeship. The initiative focuses on planting and maintaining trees in neighborhoods facing health and equity disparities. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
New tree plantings with high survival rates, workforce skill development, job placement for participants, and progress toward neighborhood canopy goals.
- Wild Potomac Limited
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Overview:
Builds community and organizational capacity for canopy restoration in Hancock and Cumberland through urban forestry education, participatory planning, and the design of community food forests. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Increased community engagement, locally driven canopy plans, and new planting strategies benefiting both residents and wildlife.
- Baltimore City Recreation & Parks – Forestry Division (Phase II)
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Overview:
Implements the next phase of the Forest Health and Deer Management initiative to execute a community-informed plan aimed at reducing deer impacts and restoring forest health in city park natural areas. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Reduced browsing pressure, improved forest regeneration, and healthier park ecosystems in disadvantaged communities.
- Baltimore Community ToolBank
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Overview:
Expands access to tree planting and maintenance equipment by increasing tool inventory and providing subsidized access for community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Lower barriers to tree care, increased community participation in canopy work, and improved maintenance capacity statewide.
- Corazón Latino — Nuestras Raíces, Nuestros Árboles (Phase II)
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Overview:
Expands culturally relevant outreach through bilingual digital resources, communications campaigns, and community engagement activities, while strengthening technical assistance for forestry partners. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
Broader public engagement, expanded bilingual resources, increased participation in tree planting efforts, and strengthened statewide outreach capacity.
- Urban Wood Economy (Phase II)
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Overview:
Conducts a practical assessment of a business model to redirect wood waste into a centralized processing and upcycling system, exploring pathways for product development and job creation. -
Anticipated Outcomes:
A scalable strategy for wood reuse, reduced landfill disposal, and new opportunities for economic development tied to urban wood.
