The City of Bloomington has launched a tree assistance program that aims to help qualifying homeowners remove hazardous trees and plant new ones. With an uptick in severe storms, the program hopes to make the city more climate resilient.
City urban forester Haskell Smith said citizens have requested this kind of program the last few years.
“Trees are expensive,” he said. “Any aspect of it, pruning, removal, even planting a new tree, is sometimes cost prohibitive, especially for some of the folks that don't quite make the most money.”
To qualify, you must own and live in a property within city limits. A single-income household must earn less than $63,000 a year, and a multi-income household must earn less than $72,300 a year. Smith said funding comes from the Economic and Sustainability Department.
“You just want to make sure it's going to help the people that need it,” he said. “You have to have certain stipulations in the process. We decided that those were the best that we could do.”
Smith expects to fund between 20 and 30 applications. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 1.
Smith said future assistance could be offered depending on need from the community and funding available. He hopes to have the program for two seasons a year.
