The United States will spend $1.13 billion to fund over 380 tree-planting projects in marginalized communities throughout all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories and some tribal nations, Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week.
The federal funds are intended to help these communities plant and maintain trees, which advocates say will reduce extreme heat, benefit health and community wellness, improve access to nature, and mitigate climate change.
Vilsack made the announcement from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which will receive $6 million in funding through the new grants. Other cities like Houston, Los Angeles, Hutchinson, KS, and Tarpon Springs, FL are also on the list of grant recipients.
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