AUGUSTA — Town of Camden will receive $7,170, and the City of Belfast will get $8,000 through a state community forestry grant. Project Canopy, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's community forestry program, recently awarded $133,000 in grants to local governments and municipalities, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations that support community efforts to develop and maintain long-term community forestry programs.

Funded by the U.S. Forest Service, the Project Canopy grants are administered by the DACF's Maine Forest Service and available in two categories: planning and education grants and tree planting and maintenance grants.

"The total economic impact of the horticulture industry in Maine is $286 million annually, and the industry supports 7,826 jobs," said Gov. Paul R. LePage in a news release. "These forestry projects support many of these jobs by benefiting local landscapers, nurseries, foresters and loggers."

Commissioner Walt Whitcomb said in the release: "In additional to their economic impact, the 19 Project Canopy grants announced today will also increase community awareness of the benefits of our forests and trees and promote community forest management practices.

“This program connects Maine communities with the technical and financial assistance available from forest professionals in our Department who help actively maintain and enhance urban and community forests."

"Since 2003, Project Canopy has awarded more than $1.5 million in funding for community forestry projects," said Project Canopy Director Jan Ames Santerre. "The average grants range from $6,000 to $8,000 and require a 50-percent cost-share with cash or in-kind services."

Project Canopy is a cooperative partnership between the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry's Maine Forest Service and GrowSmart Maine. The program encourages communities to develop project proposals that support sustainable community forestry management, increase awareness of the benefits of trees and forests, and increase the health and livability of communities through sound tree planting and maintenance.

Six  Planning Grants were awarded to:

Dixmont Conservation Commission - $10,000, - Farmington Conservation Commission - $4,000, - Town of Kennebunkport - $4,919, - Town of Monmouth - $4,000, - Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (Bath, Woolwich, Georgetown, - West Bath, Westport Island) - $7,500, - Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve - $6,995

Thirteen (13) Planting Grants were awarded to:

- City of Presque Isle - $8,000 - University of Maine - Farmington - $7,384 - Town of Pittsfield - $4,563 - Town of Fort Kent - $8,000 - City of Lewiston - $7,366 - City of Belfast - $8,000 - City of Ellsworth - $8,000 - Town of Greenville - $6,149 - Town of Dover-Foxcroft - $7,999 - Town of Milo - $7,938 - Town of Camden - $7,170 - Town of Yarmouth Tree Committee - $8,000 - Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (Dover-Foxcroft) - $7,082

The nineteen 2014/15 Project Canopy grants were selected from a total of 22 applications, with grant requests totaling $143,065.

Project Canopy Assistance Grants are available to state, county, and municipal governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations for developing and implementing community forestry projects and programs.

Planting projects increase the health and livability of communities through sound tree planting and maintenance, while planning and education projects support sustainable community forestry management, and efforts to increase awareness of the benefits of trees and forests. All grants require a 50 percent match from the grant recipient.

Project canopy is funded by the USDA Forest Service Community Forestry Assistance Program. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program was established to promote natural resource management in populated areas and improve quality of life.

To learn more about the Project Canopy Assistance program, contact Project Canopy Director Jan Ames Santerre at (207) 287-4987.

More information is available on the web at www.projectcanopy.me

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: www.maine.gov/dacf.