COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio communities can receive as much as $20,000 this year for local tree planting projects as part of Governor Bob Taft's Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting Program. Applications are available through June 6 for approximately $250,000 in Urban Forestry Grants for tree planting efforts along public rights-of-way.

Announced by Governor Taft on Earth Day 1999, the Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting Program is aimed at planting an additional two million trees, one for each of Ohio's school children, before the 200th anniversary of Ohio statehood in 2003.

Administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry, the grants are funded by a percentage of air pollution fines collected by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with communities providing a 50 percent match in local funds.

Through Ohio's Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting Program, trees will also be planted along roadways, on abandoned surface-mined lands and on state wildlife areas.

Grant applications and guidelines can be obtained by calling Drew Todd, with the ODNR Division of Forestry, at (614) 265-6707.

-30-

For Further Information Contact:
Drew Todd, ODNR Division of Forestry
(614) 265-6707
-or-
Andy Ware
ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882