Forest service community forest and open space conservation program

This is a program for towns, tribal entities, whatever, to acquire land to be used as community forests, or expand existing forests. Towns can use the program to apply for funding from the forest service to help buy the land, with the Forest Service paying up to 50%, for maximum of $600,000. The application has different requirements for towns, such as the type of land that can be acquired, the type of entity that can buy the land, providing budget proposals, etc. The primary focus is buying land, as opposed to other management projects like building trails within existing land.

Mad River Valley Conservation and Recreation Visioning

Part of the Mad River Valley Recreation district. The MRVRD is a group helping to “facilitate, enhance, and create recreation opportunities” in the Mad River Valley. The Conservation and Recreation Visioning program is for organizations hoping to use their land for recreational spaces. They include a group of organizations dedication to outdoor recreation. They also have a grant program for groups hoping to develop recreational spaces. The program provides specifically for recreational projects.

Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships

A program run at the University of Vermont that provides resources including access to faculty, research, technical expertise, students, and more. They can also help provide funding for some projects in certain focus areas, including creating healthy ecosystems.

Vermont Housing and Conservation Board Funding resource

This resource is provided by the VHCB, which gives funds for conservation of land, and preservation and restoration of historic properties. They do this for various types of land use, including agriculture, forests, outdoor recreation, and others. Their area of focus for these funds are primarily on purchasing conservation easements on privately owned working forests, and funding land acquisitions for towns looking to make a town forest. Organizations that can apply include housing and conservation orgs, municipalities, and certain state agencies, and there are certain requirements and guidelines for applicants.

Forest, Parks, and Recreation Grant programs

List of grant programs sponsored by the Vermont department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.

UCF Community Tree planting program

A grant for up to $630,000 for tree planting, with the goal of planting 2,000 trees across the state.

Association of Vermont’s Conservation Commissions Tiny Grant

The goal of AVCCs Tiny Grants program is to provide seed money and/or matching funds for specific projects in the broad categories of land conservation, education and outreach, stewardship and management, and planning. Grants ranging from $250-$600. Applications due April 4th 2025.