• Growth Award Application (PDF)
  
• Current Tree City USA 1st Time and Recertification Information

The Tree City USA Growth Award is provided by The National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, to recognize environmental improvement and to encourage higher levels of tree care throughout America. This award is designed not only to recognize achievement, but also to communicate new ideas and to help the leaders of all Tree City USAs to plan for improving community tree care.

ELIGIBILITY: Your community may be eligible for the Tree City USA Growth Award if it is a Tree City USA for at least the second consecutive year and has spent at least as much on its community forestry program this year as it did last year. If your community qualifies, you will receive Tree City USA Growth Award banners for your community entrance signs, a plaque with your community name and a Growth banner emblem denoting the year your community received the award and appropriate local and national recognition. In subsequent qualifying years, the community receives a Growth banner emblem to update the plaque and additions to the award signs denoting the year. Communities achieving growth recognition for 10 years are designated Sterling Tree City USAs.

• Growth Award Application (PDF)

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:- Visit The National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City Growth Award web site for information on each Category, Eligible Activities and Application Procedures. Review the Eligible Activities listed under Categories A, B, C and D. If your community has completed activities during the year which total 10 or more points, you may apply for a Growth Award.

NOTE: Your program may already have accomplished many of these activities; however, only those completed in the past year are eligible.

Complete the application form and mail to the Community Forestry Assistant in your area with the appropriate documentation attached. Include a cover sheet for the documentation for each Eligible Activity indicating the activity name and number. The completed application with required documentation must be submitted by December 1st. (See the current Tree City Recertification Application Instructions for the name and address of the Community Forestry Assistant in your area). Your Growth Award application must be sent with your Tree City USA Application for Recertification. Your community is eligible to apply for this award each year it completes Eligible Activities totaling 10 or more points.