Projects Will Help Advance New York State’s 25 Million Trees Initiative 

Applications Must Be Submitted by August 5

In celebration of Arbor Day, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the official launch of a new grant program to expand forest product markets and businesses and increase the affordability and availability of tree seedlings for planting. 

“New York State’s forests are a cornerstone of our environment and economy,” said Commissioner Lefton. “This grant program will provide meaningful support to expand forest product markets and long-term reforestation and conservation efforts. As part of our broader commitment to climate resilience and sustainable land use, this investment in the forest products sector aims to ensure our forests remain healthy, productive, and accessible for generations.”

DEC’s Advancing Forest Markets (AFM) grant program is designed to help remove key barriers to large-scale tree planting efforts by increasing access to high-quality, locally grown seedlings for reforestation, afforestation, and climate resilience projects. It also seeks to strengthen New York State’s forest economy by expanding access to critical resources for producers of forest commodities like wood and maple syrup and other forestry businesses through projects that encourage innovation and expansion in product development, capacity, and market access. 

Eligible applicants must establish a Farm Record with the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency to obtain a Farm ID and either:

• specialize in collecting, processing, germinating, storing, propagating, and/or growing native trees or those that support this supply chain through associated market, workforce, and network development or
• own at least one acre of land that is forested or has the potential to become forested and allows for timber harvesting.

There are three unique funding categories through this grant program:

• 25 Million Trees Nursery Discount Program: Nurseries may apply for funding to offset costs to offer trees for sale to the public at a reduced cost;
• Growing Reforestation Opportunities: Nursery growers, seed collection networks, and other entities may apply for funding to scale up their production capacity and support tree supply chain markets; and
• Tree Market Boost and Revitalization Program: Forestry and forest product businesses and other entities may apply for funding to expand their capacity and support forest-based markets related to reforestation, forest management, low-grade wood products, timber, and other forest products.

Grant awards range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $12 million with no match required.  Grant awards will include an incentive payment for program participation (between $2,000 and $10,000, dependent on project size). These incentive payments will be distributed after a contract becomes fully executed with DEC at the beginning of the project. All work funded through these grants must be completed before January 2028.

Applications will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the Statewide Financial System (SFS). Those interested must register in SFS before applying. Not-for-profits must also prequalify before the application deadline. For more details about the grant opportunity, including eligibility information, examples of fundable projects, and application and scoring criteria, visit DEC’s website. 

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York State’s working forests are a critical piece of our agricultural and rural economies, providing commodities like wood, fiber, and maple products. I commend the Governor and our partners at DEC for advancing an initiative that will further the state’s working land conservation goals, supporting our unique forest products while promoting sustainable forest stewardship and protecting this treasured resource for generations to come.” 

Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) Executive Director John Bartow said, “The Advancing Forest Markets program is a major opportunity to drive expansion of forest product markets in New York. The forest products industry is a pioneer for New York’s manufacturing sector, indirectly contributing $13.1 billion in economic output for New York State. ESFPA is excited to see the innovative projects and entrepreneurial industry leaders that will drive this amount even higher as a result of this grant program’s support.” 

The Nature Conservancy New York Reforestation Manager Mandy St. Hilaire said, “Reforestation starts with seedlings. Investments like AMP help strengthen nurseries and accelerate seed collection, processing, and production—ensuring New York’s seedling supply chain can meet the growing demand for native trees, further advancing state climate and conservation goals.” 

The 25 Million Trees Initiative was launched by Governor Hochul in recognition of how crucial New York’s forests are to mitigating climate change, combating extreme heat, and making communities more resilient. 

Whether you plant one tree or many, every New Yorker can contribute to the statewide total by recording the trees they plant in DEC’s Tree Tracker. To learn more about how to contribute to the 25 Million Trees Initiative, visit DEC’s webpage at on.ny.gov/25milliontrees.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under agreement number NR233A750004G035.