The City of Lathrup Village is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $75,000 Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support street tree planting, care, and maintenance throughout the community.
The grant is part of nearly $650,000 in federally funded awards distributed by the Michigan DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to 15 communities and organizations across Michigan. The program, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, is designed to help communities expand and maintain healthy, sustainable urban forests.
Lathrup Village has long recognized the importance of its tree canopy as a defining feature of the community. The grant will provide valuable resources to continue investing in the City's street trees, including planting new trees, maintaining existing trees, and supporting the long-term health and sustainability of the City's urban forest.
“Lathrup Village is known for its beautiful tree-lined streets, and this grant will help us protect and strengthen that important part of our community,” said City Administrator Mike Greene. “This funding allows us to make a significant investment in our trees without placing the full cost on local taxpayers. We are excited to put these resources to work throughout the City.”
The City also extends a special thank you to the Lathrup Village Tree Committee for its work behind the scenes in helping secure this funding. The Committee has been instrumental in gathering community input, identifying priorities for the City's urban forest, and supporting the grant application process. Earlier this year, the Committee conducted a community survey to help identify residents' priorities for future tree-related projects and guide the City's urban forestry efforts.
“This grant is a great example of how volunteer efforts can translate into meaningful investments in our community,” Greene added. “The Tree Committee put in a tremendous amount of work to help position the City for this opportunity, and we are grateful for their dedication.”
The Michigan DNR notes that trees provide significant environmental and community benefits, including improving air quality, cooling neighborhoods, helping manage stormwater, reducing energy costs, and contributing to the overall health and quality of life of residents.
The City will provide additional information about specific tree planting and maintenance activities as the grant-funded work moves forward.
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