Phoenix recently got a $10 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
The money, which is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, will go toward planting trees in underserved communities across the city. That’s in addition to money Phoenix has already gotten from the American Rescue Plan Act to plant trees at schools and in neighborhoods.
Officials say they plan to use this money to provide full tree infrastructure — including buying the trees, putting them in the ground and irrigation, among other costs. They’re hopeful to get started by the beginning of next year.
There have been a lot of conversations over the past several years about increasing the tree canopy around Phoenix, especially in those parts of town that are more vulnerable to heat.
The Show spoke with Lora Martens, Phoenix’s urban tree program manager, about this grant and how it fits into those larger efforts.
