Nearly $1 million is coming to Auburn to help plant trees.
US Senator Chuck Schumer made the announcement that nearly $11 million dollars will be spread throughout Central New York through the USDA’s Forestry Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program.
“Neighborhoods in the city of Auburn located in environment 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 Mayor of Auburn Michael Quill. “On behalf of our city, we thank Senator Schumer for his leadership and tireless effort to provide these essential funds within the Inflation Reduction Act.
Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act the $945,000 will help replace over 12,000 trees lost in Auburn to the emerald ash borer, an invasive species.
Over 1,000 new trees are slated to be planted. Funding will also go to manage existing trees and provide education and awareness of the city’s ongoing efforts to increase trees throughout neighborhoods. The city plans to accomplish this through partnerships with West End neighborhoods and the Auburn Enlarged City School District.
The City of Syracuse will receive $1 million dollars. $9 million will go to the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board.
“Central NY, put on your work gloves, get out your shovels and get ready to dig in because nearly $11 million is on the way to help plant thousands of new trees and help youth make our communities cleaner and greener for all. Investing in helping green spaces in our neighborhoods grow not only improves quality of life and air quality, it increases property values, decreases temperatures and so much more. It is how you plant the seeds for a brighter future,” said Senator Schumer. “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 funding 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.”
