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WEST CHICAGO AWARDED GRANT TO BOOST COMMUNITY TREE CANOPY




The City of West Chicago has been awarded a $300,000 grant from The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) to improve the community tree canopy. This competitive grant is one of nearly 40 awarded to nonprofits, government entities, and other eligible groups through Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and CRTI.

The grant, which requires no matching funds, supports initiatives aimed at increasing tree canopy, improving forest health, and strengthening community forestry programs. It can fund projects such as tree planting and management plans in both urban and rural areas, improving forestry efficiency and supporting local economies through enhanced infrastructure and workforce development.

To maximize the impact of this funding, the City plans to introduce a contractual fall tree planting program for 2025, 2026, and 2027. The program will complement the existing spring planting initiative, diversify the tree canopy

by introducing species better suited to fall planting, and target the planting of approximately 450-500 new trees. The City will allocate $100,000 annually for the program, with the goal of planting and maintaining these trees within the City rights-of-way. According to the 2023 tree inventory, there are approximately 900 open planting spaces.


 



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Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce
306 Main St.
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-231-3003
Fax: 630-231-3009
Email: team@westerndupagechamber.com

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