Several Northern Minnesota communities have received state-funded tree grants to combat emerald ash borer damage.
Crookston, Duluth, Hill City, International Falls, Virginia, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe received community tree planting grants to remove damaged or dying trees and replace them with more resilient species.
Thirty-three communities throughout the state received funds totaling nearly $5 million, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
“With this round of funding, more than 6,000 trees will be planted or replaced in communities throughout Minnesota,” stated Madisson Masucci, DNR’s urban and community forestry coordinator, in the release.
According to the grant website, communities focused on removing and replacing ash trees received priority for the funds. Emerald ash borers, invasive beetles known for their devastating infestation of North America’s ash trees, have been spreading into Northern Minnesota in the past few years despite quarantines. According to the DNR’s interactive map of emerald ash borer activity, infestations have been reported as far north as Virginia in July 2026.
Socioeconomic factors, like community income levels, were also taken into consideration. The state Legislature funded the grant.
Putting the funds to use
Earlier this year, Virginia removed 34 ash trees around the community. The city earned $78,875 from the grant fund.
Director of Parks and Recreation Brian Silber said the city will now turn its attention to planting 45 trees next fall and spring, a surprisingly complex process.
“It’s a lot more than me going out with a shovel and digging a hole in the ground,” Silber said.
Silber said the city would work with an arborist to determine the “right trees in the right place.” He pointed to location, climate, and nutrition as important factors when recreating Virginia’s local canopy. He also said diversification — planting an array of species — would play an important role in combatting future complications and issues.
Hill City received a grant of $117,753. City Clerk and Treasurer Tami Meyer said the fund, alongside another DNR grant, could reimburse residents for dealing with diseased or at-risk trees.
“We have applications,” she said. “If they know that they have ash trees on their property, they can fill out an application, and then we can get the ball rolling that way.”
New community funds available
The DNR also announced the Protect Community Forestry for Community Resilience Grant, funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The grant closes applications Sept. 14. All Minnesota nonprofits, schools and local governments are eligible to apply. The grant’s total pool of funds is $1.7 million.
Silber urged other communities to take action.
“Trees do a lot of good as far as heat and wind mitigation in our communities,” he said. “And so, we need to keep a healthy tree inventory in all our towns.”
Further information, including overview sessions and videos, can be found at the Protect Community Forestry for Community Resilience Grant website.
A full list of Community Tree Planning 2025 grantees is available at the DNR website.
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