Open — 2026 Project Canopy Planning and Education grant. Competitive applications accepted through December 17, 2026; 2027-2028 project performance period. Not publisher-approved.
Maine 2026 Project Canopy Assistance — Planning and Education Grants (Up to $20,000; December 17, 2026)
Maine Forest Service community forestry planning and education grants for eligible municipalities, educational institutions, nonprofits and other eligible public or Tribal entities. Up to $20,000 per project, 50% nonfederal match, reimbursement. Required workshop October 29; applications due December 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
FundingIndividual award up to $20,000. Planning and Education track pool approximately $125,000; all Project Canopy Assistance tracks combined $250,000; 2026 Project Canopy and EAB Mitigation overall $390,000. These aggregate amounts are not individual grants. 50% nonfederal cash or eligible in-kind match; reimbursement after approved work and expenses.
DeadlineDecember 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Maine Forest Service official notice and 2026 Planning and Education Guidelines; time zone not specified). Required online workshop October 29, 2026, 1-3 p.m., for applicants not attended since 2024.
Last verifiedOctober 29, 2026 (Maine Forest Service 2026 Planning and Education 8-page Guidelines AND 6-page fillable grant application, official announcement and application index independently reviewed)
Required next actionRead current official 2026 Planning and Education Guidelines and six-page application. Attend grant workshop October 29 if not attended since 2024, and obtain SAM.gov UEI for recipient. Complete common Project Canopy online grant overview; email full application package to PROJECTCANOPYGRANTS.DACF@maine.gov by December 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Include designated and official representative signatures, up to five-page proposal outside budget tables, up to three-page project narrative, detailed eligible project/match budget, community-capacity checklist, partner letters and three-year maintenance plan where planting is proposed. Submission inbox limit 10 MB per message. Project expenditures cannot start before executed agreement.
Broad Eligibility
Maine municipal, county and state government units, educational institutions, Tribal organizations and qualifying nonprofits with community forestry planning/education proposals; applicants not attending a Project Canopy workshop since 2024 must attend 2026 grant workshop. Recipient requires SAM.gov UEI. Nonfederal 50% matching resources required.
Atlas Analysis
October 29, 2026 full official-source verification: Maine Forest Service 2026 Project Canopy Planning and Education eight-page guidelines AND six-page fillable application examined. Up to $20,000 individual award, about $125,000 track pool, 50% eligible nonfederal match, reimbursement only; state/municipal/county, educational, Tribal and qualifying nonprofit applicant types as documented; no machinery, construction, land or invasive/ash tree planting; online October 29 workshop required if not attended since 2024. Grant period February 1, 2027 to October 30, 2028. Application requires two authorized signatures (designated and official representatives), signed package emailed to Project Canopy after online common overview form, grant narrative, match budget, three-year maintenance if planting, support letters and checklist. Form caps main proposal at five pages excluding budget tables and email at 10 MB. No applicant money before executed grant agreement. Fully source-researched; existing publisher QA and protected approval have not been obtained. Guide contains inconsistent conditional-award notification year; no unsupported notification date asserted.
2026 Project Canopy Assistance: Planning and Education
The Maine Forest Service, through Project Canopy and with USDA Forest Service support, offers competitive financial-assistance grants for Maine community forestry planning, tree inventories, forest-management plans, municipal tree boards and ordinances, and public education. This is a grant for applicants, not a government purchase contract.
Individual award, match and timing
Applicants may request up to $20,000 in federal assistance. Approximately $125,000 is available for this planning and education track; this is its overall track pool, not a per-applicant award. Recipients must provide a 50% nonfederal match, equal to the grant amount, through eligible cash, services or in-kind contributions. Funding is on a reimbursement basis after compliant project work and expense documentation. Applications are due December 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.; the official published guidance does not state a time zone. The stated grant performance period is February 1, 2027 through October 30, 2028.
Eligibility and eligible projects
Eligible direct applicant types include Maine state, county or municipal government entities, educational institutions, Tribal organizations and nonprofits whose proposed community forestry projects meet the current criteria. Projects may include street-tree inventories, long-term community forestry plans, forest management on publicly accessible lands, public tree ordinances and tree boards, and invasive forest-pest response plans. Grant-reimbursable costs include qualifying consultants, essential supplies and limited planting for research or demonstration. Normal construction, land acquisition, machinery purchases, invasive planting material and ash tree planting are prohibited. Tree planting projects require a three-year maintenance plan.
Required application steps
The 2026 grant workshop is scheduled for October 29, 2026, 1:00–3:00 p.m. via web conference. The 2026 official guidelines require attendance by applicants that have not attended a grant workshop since 2024; check with the Maine Forest Service if uncertain about a previous attendance record. Grant recipients must have a SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier. Complete the Project Canopy common online overview form and submit the signed application package to PROJECTCANOPYGRANTS.DACF@maine.gov by the deadline. Materials include a maximum three-page narrative, detailed grant-and-match budget, project workplan, community-capacity checklist and specific partner support letters; include a maintenance plan where planting is proposed. Review the current 2026 Planning and Education Guidelines and application form at the official application page before submitting.
Official funder documentation
Maine Forest Service 2026 Project Canopy applications and guidelines. Verified October 29, 2026 against the eight-page 2026 guidelines and six-page official grant application, including required authorized signatures and proposal size limits. Existing protected publication QA and approval remain outstanding.
Source verificationOfficial government source · www3.maine.govAtlas last verified this record October 29, 2026 (Maine Forest Service 2026 Planning and Education 8-page Guidelines AND 6-page fillable grant application, official announcement and application index independently reviewed). Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
