NUCFAC is an appointed advisory council to the Secretary of Agriculture on urban forestry and related issues. The 1990 Farm Bill created NUCFAC to bring together the wide variety of voices raised about a common concern: the present health and future preservation of America's urban forests. NUCFAC was founded to synthesize the full spectrum of views into a consistent vision, as a foundation for practical policy on urban forestry.

NUCFAC has initiated a series of public forums designed to highlight important perspectives on urban forestry issues across the US. The first was held in June 2007 in Biloxi, Mississippi on the relationship between urban forests and catastrophic storms. The second, "A Comprehensive Look at Tropical Forestry", was held on June 18 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

For More information, visit the following links:

• NUCFAC website
• Annual reports
• Ten-year Action Plan 2006-2016 (PDF)
• Report to the Secretary of Agriculture on Catastrophic Storms and Urban Forests (PDF)
• Report to the Secretary of Agriculture, "A Comprehensive Look at Tropical Forestry (PDF) [NEW!]
• 2008 Challenge Cost-Share Grant proposals recommended for funding

This year the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council has revised its grant categories and process to the Forest Service’s National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program. We anticipate $ 1 million in funding. The funds will be divided into two main categories:

Innovation Grants are to focus on one of the Council’s identified priority areas. One or more grants may be awarded from the $500,000 available in this category.

Best Practices Grants are smaller grants intended to improve existing or develop new best practices related to urban forestry. A maximum of $50,000 per application can be awarded from the $500,000 available in this category.

In addition, NUCFAC is announcing two additional special focus grant opportunities: outreach scholarships and storm event protocol. [NEW!]

The 2009 US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant (CFDA 10.675) instructions and application are posted on www.grants.gov. And are available in PDF format here:

• Outreach Scholarships
• Storm Event Protocol

Applications for the Urban and Community Forestry Special Focus Grants are due by 11:59 PM, June 5, 2009.

To access the grant application online at www.grants.gov:

1. Click on "Grant Opportunities"
2. "Browse by agency"
3. Click on second to last agency listed: "United States Department of Agriculture",
4. Sort list by opening date,
5. Select 2009 Urban Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program Request For Proposals
6. Click on Tab at the Top “Full Announcement” to view and download instructions and application coversheet and narrative

Use the free Adobe Reader to download and fill out application.

If interested applicants are not already registered in www.grants.gov, they are encouraged to register now. The process may take up to two weeks to collect the required information.

Assistance is available from the Grants.gov Help Contact Center

Open Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Email support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726.

For more information or assitance, contact:

Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff, Phone 202-205-7829, Email: nstremple@fs.fed.us

Pamela Williams, U&CF Staff Assistant, Phone 202-205-1054, Email: pwilliams@fs.fed.us