The City of West Chicago has been awarded a $300,000 grant from The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) to enhance its community tree canopy. This funding is part of a competitive program made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and CRTI. West Chicago is among nearly 40 recipients, including nonprofits, government entities, and other eligible groups.
The grant, which requires no matching funds, is designed to bolster community forestry efforts by supporting projects such as tree planting, forest health improvements, and the development of sustainable forestry programs. The funding also aims to strengthen local economies through infrastructure enhancements and workforce development.
West Chicago plans to use the grant to launch a contractual fall tree planting program in 2025, 2026, and 2027. This initiative will complement the City’s existing spring planting program, allowing for the diversification of tree species that thrive in fall planting conditions. Approximately 450-500 trees will be planted annually in City rights-of-way, with $100,000 allocated each year for this purpose. The program targets 900 available planting spaces identified in the City’s 2023 tree inventory.
This new initiative underscores West Chicago’s commitment to fostering a healthier, greener community while enhancing local urban forestry infrastructure.