Three towns and PCSWCD receive Project Canopy grants

    Project Canopy, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) community forestry program, recently awarded $133,000 in grants to develop and maintain long-term community forestry programs. Funded by the U.S. Forest Service, the Project Canopy grants are administered by the DACF’s Maine Forest Service.
    Among the recipients are the town of Dover-Foxcroft, $7,999; Greenville, $6,149; Milo, $7.938; and the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) in Dover-Foxcroft, $7,082.

    “The total economic impact of the horticulture industry in Maine is $286 million annually, and the industry supports 7,826 jobs,” said Gov. Paul R. LePage. “These forestry projects support many of these jobs by benefiting local landscapers, nurseries, foresters and loggers.”
    “In additional to their economic impact, the 19 Project Canopy grants will also increase community awareness of the benefits of our forests and trees and promote community forest management practices,” said Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “This program connects Maine communities with the technical and financial assistance available from forest professionals in our department who help actively maintain and enhance urban and community forests.”
    “Since 2003, Project Canopy has awarded more than $1.5 million in funding for community forestry projects,” said Project Canopy Director Jan Ames Santerre. “The average grants range from $6,000 to $8,000 and require a 50-percent cost-share with cash or in-kind services.”