Money from a $12 million federal grant for the Philly Tree Plan that had been frozen amid Trump administration scrutiny has been unfrozen — at least for now. City council members were surprised to learn the money had started flowing again to help pay for the city’s goal of greatly increasing the number of trees in multiple neighborhoods to address increasing heat and provide overall beautification. The $12 million grant was to be spread over five years. It was first earmarked under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. The nonprofit Public Health Management Corp. is the lead applicant of the grant, which involves multiple partners. The Philly Tree Plan’s goal is to bring the tree canopy up to approximately 30% across neighborhoods.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/3/2025