NE GA Tree Planting

Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Council, Inc.

Northeast Georgia Tree Planting Initiative

Background

The Northeast Georgia Tree Planting for Ecosystem Restoration and Green Jobs project is a partnership, between the Chestatee-Chattahoochee, Oconee River and Upper Ocmulgee River Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils to help create or retain approximately 42 Green Industry jobs under the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Georgia Growing Green and American Recovery and Re-investment Act (ARRA) Grant Program.

In late 2009, the Georgia RC&D Councils requested all member counties to submit a preliminary application and site plan for public properties in their county. As a result, thirteen different counties submitted forty-three applications. After a detailed review of each application and certain ARRA funding requirements paired down some of the applications, thirty-two sites and approximately 500 trees were approved.

Progress

The first tree plantings occurred April 1, at DeShong Park and Graves Park in Gwinnett County. Similarly, Hart County has recently planted trees at the Gateway Industrial Park and the County Parks and Recreation Fields. These sites are just four of the 32 project sites that will be completed by the end of March next year. The rest of the sites will be planted during this Fall planting season.

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Economic and Environmental Stimulus

Through this partnership, the Northeast Georgia RC&D Councils will be assisting to create private sector jobs in an industry that was extremely hard hit by the most recent drought and housing slowdown. This project will also help to enhance these urban areas through reforesting the communities as well as providing stormwater and bio-diversity improvements.

Click here to download a list of local landscapers.

A key component of this project is that Private and Local landscape installation contractors will be given the opportunity to bid on projects in their communities.

These contractors will be purchasing the trees from local nurseries and be contracted to provide the maintenance for a one-year period.

If you are an interested landscape installation contractor and wish to be contacted directly, please submit your company name, contact person, phone number, and address to:

Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Council

170 Scoggins Drive, Demorest, GA 30535

Or fax: 706-894-1591

Upcoming Information and Other Events

More information will be made available in the near future regarding project specifications and project locations so be sure to check back here soon!

For more information on upcoming events and for photos of the completed projects mentioned above as well as other news sources, related to ARRA funding planting project visit:

Georgia Natural Resources Conservation Service Update on ARRA Activity

Sustainable Community Forestry Program

Georgia Urban Forest Council

The information necessary to participate in the bidding process can be found on the forms below:

Bid Form

Tree Planting and Maintenance

Bidder's Qualification and Reference Form

ARRA Guidelines

The projects available for bid are listed below:

Chestatee Chattahoochee RC&D Council Area

Habersham County - 5 projects, 75 trees

Site Plan for Habersham County