Bill Beardsley, commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, has announced two area communities have been awarded grants through the Project Canopy program.
“Project Canopy, the Maine Forest Service’s community forestry program, has awarded 22 Maine schools a total of more than $17,000 in grants for tree-planting projects. The schools, including elementary, middle, high and technical schools, will plant the trees for a variety of purposes, such as improving school lunch programs, curriculum development and landscaping,” said Beardsley.
Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000.
“The individual grants, provided under the Arbor Week Tree-Planting Grant Program, range from $227 to $1,000, for a total of $17,494 (for the 22 schools combined),” said Beardsley, noting, “This is the first year of the grant program, which has federal and corporate sponsors.”
The school projects were acknowledged in May as part of the annual Arbor Week celebrations, with a special ceremony at the Maine State Cultural Building Atrium, according to the MDOC’s July newsletter.
Among the 22 schools receiving awards are Caribou High School and Technical Center, located in Caribou, and Fort Street Elementary School in Mars Hill.
“Horticulture, agriculture and natural resources classes from the Caribou Regional Technology Center had plans to plant 17 trees and shrubs at three locations around the campus, including the campus arboretum, as part of their course work,” said Beardsley.
“Grade 5 students (at Fort Street Elementary) planted at least 10 trees around the school for shade and beauty, incorporating the planting into Arbor Week programming,” continued Beardsley.
The Arbor Week Tree-Planting Grant Program is funded by the USDA Forest Service-Urban and Community Forestry Program, with corporate sponsorship form Evergreen Credit Union, Portland; Androscoggin Bank, Lewiston; and Central Maine Power, Augusta.
