Sen. Schumer Announces $10,945,000 for Central New York Forestry Expansion
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D. NY) announced $10,945,000 for three projects in Syracuse, Auburn, and across Central New York to plant thousands of new trees and expand youth and job training programs helping make the community greener through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program. The announcement was made on Fri., Sep. 15, 2023.
Schumer’s office said the nearly $11 million in funding will “help breathe new life into neighborhoods in Syracuse and across Central NY,” and plant thousands of new trees which will help reduce extreme temperatures from ‘urban heat islands’ in places like Syracuse, while also helping youth get connected to good paying jobs that improve the community and contribute to a cleaner greener environment.
“I fought hard to plant this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act so that places like Syracuse, Auburn, and other cities across Central New York, could have access to the [money] they have long needed to breathe new life into our most underserved neighborhoods. Now a greener, healthier, and more equitable Central NY can finally take root and blossom,” Schumer said. “It is how you plant the seeds for a brighter future.”
According to Schumer’s office, Syracuse will work with community partners to expand youth education and training, helping plant thousands of trees and helping to employing hundreds of youth and workers in good paying jobs to prepare workers for careers and college programs in urban forestry, land management, and landscaping. The city also plans for funding to support community led urban forest and neighborhood beautification projects and integrate tree planning into affordable housing initiatives through homeowner education and tree management assistance.
“Syracuse will quickly benefit from the investments in our tree canopy made possible by this Rooting for Syracuse collaboration. Syracuse will be better able carry out our goal to grow the canopy more equitably, enhance neighborhood health and climate resiliency, and create employment opportunities for young people with these funds,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.
The city of Auburn’s plans for this funding include helping prioritize the management of existing trees through pruning and removal of decaying trees, as well as promotion of education outreach and awareness for communities to take advantage of the city’s ongoing efforts to increase greenery and beautify neighborhoods.
“Neighborhoods in the city of Auburn located in environmental justice areas suffered great loss due to the devastating impact of the invasive emerald ash borer. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant will allow us to redevelop Auburn’s urban forest within our disadvantaged neighborhoods replacing over 1,200 trees on public lands that were lost,” said Auburn Mayor Michael Quill.
“Using this federal investment, our board plans to stand-up a program to re-distribute award funding to smaller communities across CNY, ensuring that this critical pot of funding is accessible to communities of all sizes and expanding the footprint of our region’s urban green space renaissance,” Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board Executive Director David Bottar said.
Following is a breakdown of funding allocated to CNY recipients:
Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board - $9,000,000
City of Syracuse - $1,000,000
City of Auburn - $945,000
The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) will utilize its $9 million award from the USDA to capitalize its Central New York Healthy Urban Forests initiative. Through this initiative, the CNY RPDB will manage and distribute funds in the form of sub-awards to small communities in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. Funds will be used for planning, which includes tree inventories, urban forest master plans, and management plans, and for implementation of tree planting projects identified in these plans. Additionally, funds will be used to hire two “circuit rider” arborists who will assist communities with urban forestry planning and project implementation at no cost.
The CNY RPDB will also direct funding towards workforce training programs in partnership with municipalities, local community-based organizations, educational institutions, and county soil and water conservation districts to further the capacity for communities to engage in urban forestry. Measurable outcomes of this proposal include: 10 completed urban forest master plans by the end of the contract term, at least 10,000 trees planted, and at least 25 participants engaged in workforce training programs.
