The Urban Trees Grant Program, part of Maryland's legislative initiative to plant five million trees by 2031, funds tree planting projects in urban, underserved communities. Managed by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the program aims to enhance community livability, improve air quality, mitigate urban heat islands, and address climate change. Eligible projects must fall within designated areas identified on the program’s interactive map or be located in housing projects.

Funding supports projects that include tree planting, planning for implementation, and maintenance phases. Additional components, such as workforce development, may be incorporated, but the primary deliverable must be measurable tree planting outcomes. Grants are available at different scales, ranging from approximately $15,000 for planting 25–100 trees in neighborhoods to $1,000,000 for countywide efforts planting 2,000–6,000 trees. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, community or neighborhood associations, service and youth groups, institutions of higher education, counties, municipalities, and forest conservancy district boards. Applications are submitted through an online system, and resources like webinars, native tree lists, and sample application documents are available to assist applicants. Webinars will be held on January 23, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, and February 14, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.

The application deadline is March 6, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST. Project leads are responsible for registering all trees planted with Maryland’s Five Million Trees Tracking Tool. For questions or technical support, applicants may contact Lianna Gomori-Ruben at lgomori-ruben@cbtrust.org or Wayne Dawkins at wdawkins@cbtrust.org. This grant program offers a significant opportunity to promote urban greening and environmental restoration in Maryland’s underserved communities.