Trees4SC! 2025 Program Application for Urban Forest Planning and Planting Support

Overview

-Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act funds provided by the USDA Forest Service to the SC Forestry Commission’s (SCFC) Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Green Infrastructure Center is offering assistance for cities, towns or tribes to manage and grow their community's forests. Support includes tree canopy mapping, code and ordinance assessments, and tree planning and planting. More details are at the end of this survey.

Applicants must complete this self-assessment survey. This survey application captures community needs to plan for and plant trees in cities or towns or on tribal lands. If not selected for this support through this program, there may be additional opportunities for assistance through SCFC.

Who May Apply:
Applicants filling out this survey must be authorized to apply for this support for their city, town or tribe. Counties are not eligible. Applicants must serve an official position within the governmental agency. Nonprofit or third party applicants may not apply on behalf of a locality or tribe. Applicants must be employed by or authorized by the locality or tribe to complete this application. This survey serves as the official application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for support.

Decision: Applicants will be contacted in fall 2025 with a decision, and to discuss the schedule.

Due Date: This application is due by September 15, 2025. Work will begin early 2026.

Non-Cash Support: This is not a cash grant -- this program provides technical support for mapping and planning, tree planting.

Eligibility Criteria:
Population: Any SC city or town with a population of 20,000 or more persons or any state-or federally-recognized tribe is eligible to apply for support. Smaller communities were already supported in rounds 1 and 2 of this program. This year's funding is focused on medium to larger communities.
More details about Trees4SC support are found at the end of this survey. Completing the survey automatically submits your application. Applicants who cannot complete this survey online may instead request a paper version from Marsha Potter mpotter@gicinc.org

Re-Application: If your city, town or tribe applied and did not receive support previously and your population size is at least 20,000 persons, you may re-apply.

WAIT! Before starting this survey there is information needed in order to answer all the questions in one sitting. Total time to complete this survey is 22 minutes. This survey does not allow saving partial work and returning to complete it later. It must be completed in one session. To take the survey quickly, have answers to these questions available before starting:

1) Does your locality have a digital tree canopy coverage map/data? How old are the data (if known, what year was data created)?
2) Does your city have a tree inventory? (how old, entire city, neighborhood?)
3) Does your city have an urban forest management or master plan (what year was it created -- it could need updates if very old)?
4) Are you authorized to apply for this support by your city or town?
Ranking Applications: Applications are competitive. Applications are ranked to determine the greatest need. To be eligible for support, answer all mandatory survey questions marked by an *.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applicants under the Trees4SC Program. An applicant can score the maximum of up to 34 points as shown below:

Population: Preference will be given to communities in Tier 1 with 5 points awarded for increased population served, Tier 2 communities will receive 3 points, and Tier 3 communities will receive 1 point. Only communities of the following sizes may apply. Total Potential Points: 5.
Tier 1: Population greater than 100,000 persons
Tier 2: Population between 50,000 and 99,999 persons
Tier 3: Population between 20,000 and 49,999 persons

Authorization to apply: Applicants must be authorized to apply for assistance on behalf of their city or town. Past applicants for technical support may re-apply. Total Points = 1

Willingness to Participate: Indication of interest in full program offered. Total Points = 1

Level of Need: Assigned based on needs identified by locality or tribe. Total Points = up to 5

Area of communities within the locality or tribal lands which are at greatest economic need. Total Points Possible: 5
  • 1 point awarded for 1-10.5% of the population with income below the federal poverty level
  • 2 points for 10.6% -15.5% of the population with income below the federal poverty level
  • 3 points for 15.6% - 22.5% of the population with income below the federal poverty level
  • 4 points for 22.6% - 29.5% of the population with income below the federal poverty, and
  • 5 points for 29.6% - 48% or greater population with income below the federal poverty level.
Diversity of Regions: To ensure fair distribution of support in year three of this program, points are awarded based on geography. To see the regions in map form click here. Points Possible vary as follows:
Piedmont – 4 points
Coastal – 3 points
Pee Dee – 1 point

Existing Tree Cover: Percent of the city that is covered by tree canopy. Points Possible = up to 5
Less than 10% Tree Canopy = 5 points
Greater than 10% but less than 20% Tree Canopy = 4 points
Greater than 20% but less than 30% Tree Canopy = 3 points
Greater than 30% but less than 40% Tree Canopy = 2 points
Greater than 40% Tree Canopy = 1 point

Strategic Partners: One point awarded for each outside partner (e.g. garden club) identified. Up to 3 points possible.

Demonstrated Outcomes: Clear goals/outcomes for support. 1-5 points.
1.Name of person applying on behalf of city, town or tribe(Required.)
2.Email contact for applicant named above:(Required.)
3.Name of Locality(Required.)
4.Is above named person in question #1 authorized to apply on behalf of the municipality or tribe?(Required.)
5.My community is a ...(Required.)
6.My community is designated as a "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation. If unsure see: https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityUSA/index.cfm#recognizedSection(Required.)
Current Progress,
0 of 35 answered