Noblesville, SMC Corp. & city Tree Board begin second year of Tree Planting Grant Program

Submitted by City of Noblesville

The City of Noblesville, SMC Corporation of America (SMC), and the Noblesville Tree Board have announced the second year of the Tree Planting Grant Program.

The city marks 34 consecutive years of being named a Tree City USA recipient by the Arbor Day Foundation. SMC will donate $2,500 to the grant program, and the City of Noblesville will match that donation.

The city and SMC have forged a strong partnership, harnessing the power of the community to drive economic growth, workforce development, and attraction strategies. This collaboration extends to environmentalism, with a partnership for the second year for the tree-planting grant program to coincide with Earth Day and Arbor Day. The Tree Board leads the tree planting grant program to increase the tree canopy cover in our community.

“Noblesville is grateful to have a community partner like SMC Corporation of America who invests in the long-term growth and sustainability of our city,” Mayor Chris Jensen said. “We appreciate the collaboration with SMC and Noblesville Tree Board to launch the grant application program for the second year, furthering our commitment to maintaining our natural resources.”

Last year, SMC Corporation donated $2,000 to the tree planting grant program, which was matched by the city. The inaugural grant recipients in 2024 included Same As U, Deer Creek Elementary School, Mill Grove, Deer Path, Pebble Brook Villas, and Verdure Sciences.

“At SMC, our commitment to sustainability and community support is at the core of everything we do,” SMC Corporation of America President and Kelley Stacy said. “We are proud to once again partner with the City of Noblesville and the Tree Board for this year’s Tree Planting Grant Program. This continued collaboration underscores our dedication to environmental stewardship and reflects our investment in the long-term health and vibrancy of our community. By nurturing this program, we aim to foster a legacy of sustainability and growth that will benefit Noblesville for generations to come.”

The Tree Board is responsible for the development of a master plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, removal, and disposition of street trees in the City of Noblesville. They will coordinate its efforts with related projects of such groups as the Park Board, Plan Commission, and the Street Department.

“The Noblesville Tree Board is proud to partner with SMC and the City of Noblesville as we continue to look for ways to increase the tree canopy cover of our fair city,” said Ashley Mullis of the Noblesville Tree Board. “Trees provide many valuable economic, health, environmental and aesthetic benefits to our community. From reducing energy bills, to air quality improvement, to increasing property values and lowering stress; trees are the only part of our working infrastructure that actually increases in value over time. This grant offers our community the opportunity to work together to plant trees on private land in partnership, which will benefit all for years to come.”

In 2024, the city announced it received the 2023 Inflation Reduction Act Grant to plant 147 street trees. The grant, which is $106,150 in federal funds administered through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, is part of a grant awarded to the Division of Forestry from the USDA Forest Service. In addition to the city’s commitment to tree planting through the tree planting grant program, the grant received in 2024, the city plants approximately 175 new street trees within the right of way and on city properties, in addition to the trees that the Parks & Recreation Department plants along the trails and at the parks. In addition to the grant planting, the city will be planting an additional 150 street trees this spring as part of our annual operations and budget.

How to apply for a grant:

The applications are open until Jan. 3, 2025, and can be found online at bit.ly/NoblesvilleTreePlantingGrant.

Grant awards

Applicants may apply for a minimum of five trees and maximum of 20 trees.

The trees will be 15- to 18-gallon size, which are approximately six to eight feet tall. In addition to the trees, applicants will receive training and guidance from the Noblesville Tree Board, which includes two certified arborists as well as volunteers on the day of planting. The annual Arbor Day Proclamation may take place at a project site as well to celebrate.

Grant timeline

• November 2024: Applications are live on the City of Noblesville website and can be submitted through Jan. 3, 2025.
• 3 to Feb. 28, 2025: Review committee will evaluate the Applicant’s projects.
• March 2025: Approved Project(s) will be announced and plans will be finalized.
• April 2025: Weather depending, trees will be delivered at the project site during the last two weeks of April. Plantings will be scheduled for the last two weeks of April with the approved Applicants, with consideration of Arbor Day, City availability, and volunteer availability.