Eaton Conservation District Grants Plant Trees

Properly planted trees can provide a variety of ecological and economic benefits including retaining and filtering stormwater, improving air quality, reducing soil erosion, reducing energy costs, and increasing real estate values. To continue to bring these benefits to Michigan communities, the Eaton Conservation District and the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance are announcing their Go Green Youth Challenge Tree Planting Grants.  

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance’s Go Green Youth Challenge (GGYC) engages Michigan youth in environmental stewardship, community development, and service-learning through a statewide effort to plant trees in Michigan. Children, pre-K through 12th grade, are challenged to collect coins as an individual, classroom, or club each spring.  The coins collected fund community tree plantings and program outreach efforts. In the spirit of the GGYC, the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance offers local units of government, public educational institutions, public libraries, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, churches, and tribal governments the opportunity to apply for a grant for up to $2,000 to plant trees.

Grant applications are available online at www.miarbordayalliance.com. Applications are due by mail no later than August 15th, 2014.  Funded tree planting projects must be completed by December 31st, 2014.

The 2014 GGYC exceeded previous monetary goals and had over 1,100 students from across the state participate! Planting projects in Potterville and Dimondale were funded by this grant in 2012 and we would love to see more applications from Eaton County.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance would like to thank everyone who participated, including the sponsors:  ITC, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Eaton Conservation District, WKAR, and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan.  Our dedication comes from our belief in the importance of trees and their role in community health and well-being.  Since 1993, MADA has provided educational programs and services to Michigan communities.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a program of the Eaton Conservation District.