The City of Grand Junction has received a $4,000 grant from the Colorado Tree Coalition (CTC) for the funding of tree planting. These funds will go towards the focus of vacant planting spaces in public rights-of-way and parks that suffer from high numbers of ash tree die off.
Over the last 10 years, the City of Grand Junction’s urban tree canopy has suffered from drought, the pressures of development, and negative impacts from insects and diseases. Funding through the Xcel Energy Foundation allows the City an excellent opportunity to make a 2021 push towards replenishing canopy losses.
“This increase in funding couldn’t come at a better time to help boost Parks & Recreation’s 2021 goals for increasing the number of newly planted trees across Grand Junction in our focused effort to mitigate the losses of infested ash trees,” Rob Davis, Grand Junction’s City Forester.
The City will create two community-focused tree planting projects in 2021. Tree planting efforts will be focused on vacant planting spaces in public rights-of-way and parks with higher numbers of existing ash trees. Ash trees are Grand Junction’s most numerous public tree, and there is a need to proactively increase tree planting to offset potential future loses from the emerald ash borer insect.
About the Colorado Tree Coalition and the Xcel Foundation Grant
The Colorado Tree Coalition awarded $46,798.00 to 16 organizations in 2020 thanks to funding from the USFS, CSFS, CTC, the Xcel Energy Foundation and the Xcel Energy Vegetation Management Program. Along with matching funds provided by the grant recipients, this will help plant more than 817 trees in communities across Colorado. Each of these projects allowed residents the opportunity to make a difference in their community. CTC grants are made possible through the support of the USDA Forest Service, the Colorado State Forest Service, Xcel Energy Foundation, Xcel Energy Vegetation Management, Colorado Public Radio and our Colorado Tree Coalition members and supporters. Since 1991 the Colorado Tree Coalition has awarded 529 grants totaling over $908,173. These grants have been matched with over $7.8 million in community money and/or time. As a result of these grants over 75,232 trees have been planted throughout the state.
Contact: Greg LeBlanc, Sr. Assistant to the City Manager | 970-244 1557 or gregoryl@gjcity.org