Over the next 5 years $1.5 billion will be invested in community and urban forestry projects, delivering stormwater capture, heat mitigation, clean air and other community and climate resilience benefits to neighborhoods across the US. River Network is one of 12 national pass-through funders that will administer $200+ million of these funds. Join this session to learn about Milwaukee Water Commons’s model urban tree canopy renewal program, Branch Out MKE Sherman Park. This program provides long-term environmental, health and economic benefits while building a robust community engagement process and fostering local residents’ support and commitment to green infrastructure (GI) improvements in a neighborhood that has historically been neglected and underserved. Learn about Milwaukee’s first-ever Community Tree Board and their role guiding this project and hear about their victories and challenges engaging residents and uplifting GI projects with neighborhood residents, private property owners and community partners. Also, River Network will share upcoming opportunities through the US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Grants so you can launch a forestry project in your own community.
