MassReLeaf Ministry

2010-2011Grant Application Guidelines

Please read this entire application packet carefully. Please note: Grant funds are for planting projects on public propertyor access qualified private property.(see “Application Requirements” section below for further details).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The MassReLeaf Ministry responds to the “Creation Story” found in the Biblical Book of Genesis in which God gave some very precious gifts to us:

  • A unique and completely nourishing natural environment to sustain all life as we know it.
  • The gift of intelligent human life.
  • The gift of all of the creatures and vegetation on earth to use as resources for our own survival.
  • The responsibility and ability to nurture all of these precious gifts for the survival of all humankind.

The MassReLeaf Ministry is focused on the last two of these gifts which involve our responsibility and ability to nurture all of the creatures and vegetation on earth for the survival of humankind.It is a ministry implemented through a partnership between the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (MACUCC) and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Its mission is to facilitatetree-planting service projects led by local religious organizations, working in collaboration with their local municipalities and other local organizations, on public lands or within the municipally controlled “setback” as a way of ministering to the physical and mental health, emotional stability and community spirit of people living in deforested urban and blighted areas across the state of Massachusetts.

This ministry offers religious organizationsunique opportunities to lead real, hands-on tree-planting projects which will improve the quality of our shared environment and enhance the lives of thousands of citizens living in population centers across Massachusetts. This ministry brings the idea of human environmental justice into the neighborhoods and lives of those most in needin our state.

Trees contribute a variety of environmental and social benefits that can have a significant beneficial effect upon communities and the lives of citizens.Our urban and community forests provide:

  • noise reduction (50%)
  • cooling shade (winter/summer cyclical effects)
  • visual screening (basic human need for privacy)
  • enhanced property values (25 to 30%)
  • economic growth (attractive to patrons)
  • community pride (a sense of community spirit and involvement)
  • reduction of crime (28 to 30% less)
  • more rapid recovery from illnesses (2 ½ times faster)

Our urban and community forests reduce levels of pollutants such as solid particles, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and others that seriously impact human physical, mental and emotional health negatively.

  • Each urban tree absorbs an average of 15 times the pollution of pristine forest trees. (Population centers are where the pollution is concentrated.)
  • Each urban tree absorbs an average of almost 1,000 pounds of the above toxic gases per year.
  • Each urban tree absorbs an average of about 5 pounds of minute solid particles that cause severe asthma, emphysema and lung cancer in humans. Penetrate sacs of the lungs)

Our urban and community forests:

  • reduce heating and cooling needs for residential buildings thereby reducing costs
  • reduce the “urban heat island effect" (localized heating due to the preponderance of black topped surfaces) to provide a more human-friendly living environment
  • reduce rainfall runoff and erosion, thereby improving water quality and quicker re-charge of local aquifers
  • function as habitat for wildlife to enrich human enjoyment of these creatures
  • contribute to the reduction of global warming for the long term security of the Earth

The MassReLeaf Ministry strives to improve and enhance the lives of citizens of the Commonwealth by supporting the planting of community trees. A major focus of the MassReLeaf Ministry effort has been to reach out to communities throughout the state that have high levels of poverty and the associated problem of urban/community blight. By fostering the development of unique community partnerships, organized around the task of tree planting and maintenance, and providing funding, the MassReLeaf Ministry offers tangible opportunities for community action and improvement.

The MassReLeaf Ministry offers unique opportunities for real, hands-on efforts to improve the quality of our shared environment and the lives of the citizens of Massachusetts. In particular, by targeting opportunities for projects within the poorest communities in Massachusetts, this collaboration will realize the idea of environmental justice in the neighborhoods and lives of those most in need in our state.To accomplish this, the MassReLeaf Ministry provides money to pay for trees needed to conduct tree-planting projects, and this money is only available to religious organizations. This money is only available to Massachusetts religious organizations.

In addition, since most people in religious organizations have never planted large trees, significant project guidance, training and technical support resources are available from the Mass. Conference, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and your local municipality.

The goals of the MassReLeaf Ministry are multifaceted and require the interaction of theological, civil, environmental science, management and hands-on services to accomplish. These goals are:

SPREAD THE GOSPEL THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION. Conduct active evangelism through environmental service.

HELP BRING HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE MOST IN NEED IN OUR STATE.Focus on targeting opportunities for projects within the poorest and most blighted neighborhoods in Massachusetts.

DEVELOP A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEANING AND COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. Learn the profound personal meaning and costs of providing theologically based services to others.

ENHANCE COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE: Plant trees contiguously in visible locations where they make a direct, positive impact on the community and contribute to energy conservation, noise and visual screening, urban “heat island” (temperature) reduction, pollution reduction, community gateway enhancement, economic revitalization, and / or beautification.

IMPROVE URBAN ECOSYSTEMS USING TREES TO ENHANCE AIR QUALITY, WATER QUALITY, BROWNFIELD SITES AND COMMUNITY PARKS: Develop and implement planting projects that use appropriate species in appropriate locations to significantly contribute to ozone mitigation, water quality management, brownfield redevelopment, and community park enhancement in all communities.

PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE URBAN FORESTS:Demonstrate sound management including, proper tree selection, planting, aftercare, and long-term maintenance of newly-planted trees; and implement urban forest planting plans based on surveys or inventories and community development plans.

EXPLORE ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AS A WAY TO PUT OUR FAITH INTO ACTION BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS: Work with community leaders, non-profit organizations, government agencies, corporate partners, the media, and community volunteers to support the urban forest stewardship and awareness through community plantings and educational events.

HOW THE MASSRELEAF MINISTRY GRANT PROGRAM WORKS

The MassReLeaf Ministry provides grant fundingonly to Massachusetts religiousorganizations in communities of all sizes to support tree-planting projects on public property or within the municipally controlled “setback” area on private property. MassReLeaf Ministry grants can only be used for the cost of the trees needed to conduct a project. Each grant will cover a maximum of $200 per tree. Single project grant requests shall not exceed $5,000.

The MassReLeaf Ministry is a matching grants program. This means that applicants must propose and document a contributed value that equals or exceeds the grant request. This match can be cash (applicants contribute matching dollars to the project), or “in-kind” contributions (applicants contribute staff time, volunteer labor, or donated resources to the project). Typically, in-house or contracted labor, donated materials and volunteer time to plant and maintain trees are an adequate match. Time spent training volunteers to care for the trees and volunteer time actually spent maintaining trees for the first year are eligible as match. All matching resources and time must be documented and must occur within the grant contract period.

Applicants are encouraged to first contact potential community partners (local municipalities and other local organizations) AND MassReLeaf Ministry staff to discuss their projects and proposals. MassReLeaf Ministry contacts are:

  • Neal Seaborn

MassReLeaf Ministry Director, 781-237-2152,

  • Eric Seaborn

DCR Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator, 617-626-1468,

  • Reverend Peter Wells

MACUCC Associate Conference Minister, 413-589-7099,

For MassReleaf Ministry tree-planting projects, balled and burlapped (B&B), containerized or bare root trees are eligible.Again, grant requests cannot exceed $200 per tree or $5,000 total, although additional trees or higher tree costs may be used as a match.

Priority will be given to projects that emphasize planting multiple trees at one or two locations, rather than at scattered sites throughout the community. Projects should be planned for large open landscapes that are visible from or contiguous to transportation corridors, such as commons, parks, brownfields, gateways, schools and other civic spaces, or for contiguous street tree plantings rather than individual street tree replacement. Street tree plantings along a significant gateway, in a business or historic district, near schools, or in conjunction with other municipal improvement projects will be favored. Specific locations and a map or diagram must be submitted with your application.

Plantings in and adjacent to natural areas must use native plants that are indigenous to the site and function in the ecosystem.

Preference will be given for projects where community involvement and support is strong. Soliciting letters of support is strongly encouraged.

Trees must be selected and planted according to the MassReLeaf Guidelines and ANSI Standards for Tree Planting in Exhibit 1 at the end of this document. Note that planting inappropriate trees under power lines or trees in inadequate planting strips and pits will not be funded. In most cases, plantings should represent a diversity of species. Tree species should be selected carefully to thrive in the selected locations. Invasive tree such as Norway maple and European Buckthorn, or trees susceptible to common pests, disease, and maintenance problems such as Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), and Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘bradford’) will not be supported. If in doubt, please contact a MassReLeaf Ministry staff member.

A Certified Arborist (ISA or MCA), a MA Certified Horticulturist (MCH) or a MA Certified Landscape Professional (MCLP) should be supervising at the time of planting. You may contact the MA Arborists Association at 508-653-3320, the MA Nursery and Landscape Association 413-369-4731, or Association of Landscape Contractors of MA 508-653-3112. Communities must identify the certified professional to be present. If no certified professional is identified or available, the grant recipient will be required to attend a training session prior to the awarding of the grant. Please keep in mind that many trees in our landscape are planted too deeply or incorrectly and some MassReLeaf Ministry grant recipients have had to replant or replace trees at their expense.

Trees must be appropriately maintained for at least three years, and a three-year maintenance plan (such as the sample shown in attachment 2 at the end of this document)must be submitted with the application. However, for the purpose of documenting the match, only one year of the maintenance costs will be accepted.

Successful applicants will be notified of their award as soon as possible. Enclosed with this application is a contract form that applicants are to sign in the space marked “For the Contractor”. Please note that signing and returning this contract does not mean that your agency/organization has a live contract with the state. Applicants must receive notification of an active start date from the MassReLeaf Ministrybefore work can begin or any funds can be expended, if the funds are to be considered for reimbursement.

Once the grant contracts are authorized by the MassReLeaf Ministry, they will be assigned a start date that begins the contract period. Recipients are eligible to be reimbursed for work and expenses completed within the contract period, only. Applicants must document that matching funds or in-kind services were contributed, that these were directly related to the project, and that they occurred within the contract period. Funds are reimbursable and not provided up front, and the MassReLeaf Ministry reserves the right to inspect and reject the work before final payment is made, if it does not conform to accepted practices. Final receipts for reimbursement must be submitted within 30 days of contract completion and include verification of matching funds or in-kind services. After project completion, a MassReLeaf Ministry staff person will visit the planting site to inspect the project and confirm the quality of the planting that occurred. If trees are damaged or show evidence of improper care, MassReLeaf may require that the grant applicant replace them at their own expense.

PRIORITY PROJECTS

Highest priority will be given to MassReLeaf Ministry projects which demonstrate one of more of the following emphases:

  • Restoration of Abandoned Industrial Sites (Brownfields), Degraded Parks/Open Space and Vacant Lots: In addition to providing beauty, trees filter air, water and soil pollutants and can play a role in restoring property that has been restored or is in the process of remediation from pollution caused by industrial activity. Trees can also be an important component of the restoration of abandoned and vacant lots in inner city areas. For example, development of a vacant lot or abandoned property for use as a playground or public park greatly benefits from the inclusion of new trees. Projects planted in lots of this type may be particularly attractive for religious organizations to consider because the condensed nature of the planting area will facilitate the planting and maintenance activities. The MassReLeaf Ministry pilot project in Somerville was an installation of street side trees along approximately ¼ mile of an urban avenue. Reports from the local church group that conducted the project indicate that maintaining the trees (weekly watering, mulch upkeep and monitoring) is more difficult when the trees are spread out over a distance that is not easily walked with a bucket of water in hand. Religious organizations that propose to conduct this typeof planting on public land must work closely with municipal experts who can ensure proper site and species selection.
  • Reasonably Sized Street Plantings Along Barren Urban Roads: Street trees offer cooling shade to people, buildings and communities in general, reducing energy consumption and concomitant pollution generated in energy production. Street trees also help cleanse the air of pollutants, reduce storm water run-off, increase property values and business activity and can bring a touch of nature to urban centers that lack natural amenities. Well designed tree planting projects along urban roadways will be eligible for funding from this grant offering. Street tree planting proposals must demonstrate that the trees will be planted with adequate room for growth (planting sites must be reasonable for the species of tree selected) and that there are no obstructions to growth, such as overhead/under ground wires. Religious organizations that propose to conduct these types of plantings must work closely with municipal experts who can ensure proper site and species selection. The guiding principal should be “Right Tree, Right Place.” Further, the Somerville pilot project revealed that street tree planting projects of moderate size are probably best conducted by volunteer groups such as churches. The MassReLeaf Ministry recommends that a religious organization proposing to do a street tree project consider planting 10 to 20 trees as a reasonable number. This will ensure that maintenance of the trees will not become an onerous proposition for the religious organization.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Religious organizations of any denomination or religious faith located in Massachusettsare eligible to apply. All planting projects on public property must have the approval of the municipal Tree Warden. Religious organizations are responsible for coordinating all aspects of the proposal design and project execution working in collaboration with appropriate local municipal officials.
  1. Trees must be planted on public property, on property with free public access that is visible from or contiguous to transportation corridors, or in the “setback” area within 20 feet of a public way and with the property owner’s permission or on non-public property with free public access that is visible from or contiguous to transportation corridors. Religious organizations may apply for trees to be planted on non-public lands if the public has reasonable access. Evidence of access should be submitted with the grant application.
  1. Applicants must obtain quotes from wholesale nurseries for the cost of trees being considered for their projects and the quotes must be included with the grant applications. If delivery is required, costs must also be estimated. If the applicant can pick up the trees, this expense is eligible as a part of the overall match. The tree purchase and delivery costs must be documented and included with the application.
  1. The applicant must match the grant amount requested with an equal amount of cash, contracted labor, or in-kind labor to plant and care for the trees.
  1. The applicant must develop reasonable and reliable plans for securing labor resources to conduct the planting and maintenance of the trees (a sample maintenance plan is included with this application packet and is discussed below). These plans must describe how labor resources will be solicited and secured for both the planting and maintenance phases of the projects and, at least, the applicant must include a list of the project leaders who have committed to the project. Please note;Tree planting is hard labor. Volunteers must be able to endure a full day of strenuous physical exertion.
  1. Matching funds or services may come from other grants, donations, labor or equipment but must be directly related to the trees being planted through the grant. The applicant should use market rates when estimating non-cash donations and in-kind services, e.g., volunteer time. All in-kind services and donated services used as match must be documented with time sheets and invoices.
  1. All areas of the application Face Sheet must be filled out (do not say “see attached).
  1. The budget section of the Face Sheet must be clear and accurate.
  1. A diagram or map (8 ½” X 10”) clearly indicating the specific locations of the proposed tree planting must be included.
  1. A maintenance plan briefly describing ongoing care of the plantings for the first three years must be submitted. See the enclosed sample at the end of this document.
  1. Successful applicants must sign and return a MACUCC standard contract as a part of the grant application. The signature and date of signing must be original and hand-written.
  1. Interested applicants should submit 1 original and 2 copies of the entire grant application post-marked no later than the due date. All required elements must be included for consideration (please see the application checklist in the last section of this document).
  1. All tree-planting work must be completed by the end of the applicable planting season.
  1. Recipients must request reimbursement within 30 days of project completion and must also request a grant inspection. Following a satisfactory inspection by MassReLeaf Ministry staff,payments will be made within 30 days of receipt of the reimbursement submittal. Payment will be made only to the religious organization represented by the signatory that signs the contract.The MassReLeaf Ministry requires grantees to account for all the costs and related matching funds of the project.

EVALUATION CRITERIA