$200,000 grant awarded to plant and maintain tree cover in Beloit, WI
A $200,000 grant awarded to the Rock River Coalition to plant and maintain tree cover in Beloit, WI will increase community access to nature while helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. The grant will enable new or improved public green spaces, education programs to encourage tree planting by homeowners, a workforce development program to engage youth in forestry careers, plantings by local volunteers, and increased tree cover in parts of Beloit.
Trees providing cooling relief in summer, improve air quality and help the ground absorb more rainfall, which can lead to less flooding of homes and roadways and reduce polluted runoff into the Rock River. This project responds to a 2023 report by IQAir, a Swiss tech company, that found Beloit was the most polluted regional city in the nation, along with other census data that indicated Beloit shows indicators of a disadvantaged community in eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development. Disadvantaged communities in Beloit suffer higher rates of asthma and lower life expectancies than the general population.
This project would not be possible without local partners: La Vox de Beloit, Community Action’s Beloit Fresh Start, the City of Beloit, and Welty Environmental Center. La Voz de Beloit will design engagement strategies for Latinx community members, and Community Action’s Beloit Fresh Start will provide labor for multiple aspects of the project, including tree surveys, planting and watering the trees. The city will also provide forestry expertise and equipment, while Welty Environmental Center will lend its space for events.
This project is part of the Rooting Resilience Program, led by River Network and funded by the Urban & Community Forestry Program of the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rooting Resilience supports community-based forestry projects by funding programs and offering technical guidance to local organizations and Indigenous communities, helping build resilience against climate change. This program is specifically meant to increase the number of trees in communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
“I’m thrilled to support the Beloit Community through this program. While many know River Network as a leader in the water sector, forestry work is directly tied to our 35-plus-year history of water work. We know that trees provide important water filtration services, slow the flow of rainwater, and mitigate heat in cities and communities. Supporting these projects is an interconnected and exciting way to work towards healthy rivers, clean drinking water, and climate-resilient communities,” says Stephanie Heidbreder, River Network’s Director of Urban and Community Forestry.
To learn more about how this program will benefit Beloit, contact Becca Dymzarov at becca@rockrivercoaliton.org.
About River Network
River Network grows and strengthens a transformational national network of 3,000+ water, justice, and river advocates representing 1,000+ organizations working for clean water, healthy rivers, and climate-resilient communities. We believe equitable and enduring solutions start with community – created with, by, and for the people most impacted. U.S. Learn more at rivernetwork.org. River Network and USDA are equal opportunity providers.
About Rock River Coalition
Rock River’s Coalition’s mission is to provide opportunities for people of diverse interests to work together to improve environmental, recreational, cultural and economic resources of the Rock River Basin. rockrivercoaliton.org
