Trending
MARSHALL -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering a total of $1.7 million in grants for communities dealing with the emerald ash borer.
Next week, DNR representatives will be in Marshall to offer some in-person information on how local governments, nonprofits and schools can apply for the grants.
An information session will be held Monday at the Marshall-Lyon County Library, the DNR said.
"We know emerald ash borer affects communities across Minnesota and it can be challenging and expensive to deal with," DNR urban and community forestry coordinator Madisson Masucci said in a news release. "We are committed to helping organizations and government entities navigate the grant process and are offering six sessions for applicants to learn about this grant opportunity."
The emerald ash borer, a small green beetle that lays its eggs in ash trees, has caused damage to trees across Minnesota since 2009. The presence of the ash borer in Marshall was confirmed in 2023.
Emerald ash borer larvae damage ash trees by tunneling under the bark, and they eventually kill the trees.
The DNR said the 2026 Protect Community Forests Grants focus on removing, treating or replacing trees infested by emerald ash borer. The goal of the program is to help communities build a more diverse and resilient tree canopy. The grant can also support conducting tree inventories, developing management plans, and providing educational outreach.
The grant application period opened Aug. 3, and closes Sept. 14. Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and local government units are all eligible to apply for grant funding, the DNR said. The maximum grant amount is $150,000.
An in-person information session on the Protect Community Forests Grants will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the library in Marshall. More information about the grant program is also available on the Minnesota DNR website.