Proposals due by 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8

Hennepin County is soliciting proposals for forestry workforce development programming, which includes adult arborist apprenticeship programming, adult and youth introductory tree maintenance programming, and wraparound services to support both programs.

A total of $1.9 million has been allocated for this programming. Funding for this work is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service.

Contracts awarded are anticipated to span a two-year duration, with each participant cohort expected to be active in the program for one year.

Who should apply

This request for proposals is open to the following that are located within the greater Twin Cities metro area:

• Local tree care providers
• Nonprofit organizations
• Private, for-profit companies

Program overview

There are three types of programs that proposals can be submitted for, each with unique requirements. Proposers aren’t required to offer all services described in each program and can submit a proposal that outlines services that fall into their area(s) of expertise.

Adult arborist apprenticeship program

This program category is for tree care providers who will act as the host site, education experts, field instructors, and equipment providers for adult arborist apprentices. This program requires that training be provided by arborists who are ISA certified.

This program will guide adult apprentices through hands-on training provided by skilled professionals including topics such as: tree identification, pruning, tree climbing, hand tool use and safety, chipper and chainsaw use and safety, equipment maintenance, and tree removal.

Adult and youth introductory tree maintenance program

This program category is for nonprofit organizations or tree care providers who will act as the host site, education experts, field instructors, and equipment providers for adult and youth introductory tree maintenance program participants. The educational components of this program must be delivered by an arborist who is ISA certified.

This program will provide instruction to participants including topics such as: tree identification, tree planting, pruning and watering trees, basic job skills, and the benefits of trees.

Wraparound services aid program

This program category is for organizations or businesses who have experience serving people who have been previously incarcerated and providing services, supports for construction-related employment, and training programs.

This program will provide instruction and support to participants including obtaining drivers licenses, public transit education and support, clothing and nutritional needs, health resources and support, resume writing, affordable housing resources, and academic tutoring.

Pre-proposal meeting recording

Watch the recording of the pre-proposal meeting to learn more about the request for proposals. Official answers to questions asked in the video recording will be added to the documents section in the Supplier Portal by June 14.

How to apply

Proposals will be accepted via the Hennepin County supplier portal until 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8.

To access the RFP and apply

• Visit the Supplier Portal
• Under Contracting opportunities, view the request for proposal materials by selecting “Forestry Workforce Development programming”.
• You need to be registered to submit an application. There has been an upgrade to the Supplier Portal, so all respondents will need to register or re-register. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit the Supplier Portal information page.

Questions

Direct any questions about this request for proposals to: hsph.vendor.selection@hennepin.us and indicate the opportunity name “Forestry Workforce Development programming” in the subject line.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this organization is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Hennepin County is an equal opportunity provider.

Funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service.

Hennepin County forestry is offering free monthly learning opportunities about trees and forests for residents. These sessions require no previous knowledge, are open to the public, and rotate between virtual webinars, in-person trainings, and hybrid webinars and trainings. Recordings from webinars will be available for those who are unable to attend.

Download a flyer of upcoming sessions (PDF, 547 KB)

Diagnosing common tree defects and health issues in-person workshop

Thursday, July 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Learn from experts about how to diagnose common structural, root defects, and health issues in your trees. This will include stem girdling root identification and remediation, codominance that can lead to splits and tear-outs, and other health issues. This training will be held fully outdoors both on paved and unpaved paths. We will meet at the parking lot outside of the recreation center. Map to bus, bike, drive, or walk to Folwell Park.

Register to attend.

Save the date for additional trainings

Save the date for the following trainings. Locations are still being determined. Once locations are selected, we will share registration links and details via this newsletter and on the learning series web page.

Get to know your soil hybrid workshop

Thursday, August 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Learn from experts about the different types of soil in Hennepin County and how it can impact trees in this hybrid workshop held both in-person and virtually via Zoom. Get to know your soil to increase tree health and choose the right trees for your property.

Recordings and resources from past trainings

Identifying common diseases and infestations in trees webinar, held April 25, 2024

Brian Schwingle, the Forest Health Program Coordinator from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, educates about common diseases and infestation of trees, including emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease, and oak wilt. Watch a recording of this training.

Tree planting and selection webinar, held May 23, 2024

Get insight on how to select the right tree(s) for your property and learn techniques from the experts for planting bare root, containerized, and balled and burlap trees. Watch a recording of the tree planting and selection webinar.

We have updated several emerald ash borer print pieces and they are now available for free in English Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and large print English. Follow the links below to order copies for yourself or for distribution to your community.

Emerald ash borer booklet

Learn how to identify ash trees, signs of emerald ash borer infestation, and options for treating and replanting trees. Order a printed copy of the booklet.

Decision guide for managing ash trees

Learn how to identify the best options for managing your ash trees. Order a printed copy of the decision guide.

Ash tree identification card

Use this as a quick reference for identifying ash trees. Order a printed copy of the identification card.

On May 14, Northside Safety NET interns joined Hennepin County foresters to install Tree Trek signs at the 2.1-acre vacant lot at the intersection of 8^th and Washburn Avenue North in the Homewood neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Tree Trek is an interactive way to learn about the trees and ecology of plants. This Tree Trek also focuses on the climate adaptability of different species on the site.

One year ago, county forestry and Northside Safety NET interns hosted a volunteer community planting that followed the plan created by interns and selected by residents during an outreach campaign.

County foresters continue to care for and maintain the trees on the site and have plans to replace trees that did not survive their first year since planting. Additional remediation of the invasive species on the site will continue for one more year.

Take a walk through the Tree Trek to learn more about what is growing on the site and enjoy the trek!

Examples of Tree Trek signs on the site

Hennepin County is collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to plant 160 trees across seven sites on state rights-of-way along interstate 94 corridor. These sites present an opportunity to increase the environmental and public health benefits that come from roadside trees. Trees planted along roadsides are shown to improve local air quality, reduce flooding, provide shade for cooling effects in the summer and break winter winds, help local wildlife, and improve mental well-being of community members. Tree species planted during this project will tolerate conditions such as road salt, a variety of different soils, and trap particulate matter. The diversity of tree species will also increase their resiliency to climate change.

Where and when

Trees will be planted along the interstate 94 corridor in the North Minneapolis neighborhoods of: Mckinley, Webber-Camden, and Near North during the spring and fall of 2024.

Neighborhood outreach

Outreach to the neighborhoods where these plantings will take place will occur during spring of 2024. Outreach tactics will include postcards, forestry presence at community meetings to answer questions, posts to the neighborhoods via NextDoor, and lawn signs at planting locations.

Attend a Tree Stewards training and volunteer planting on Saturday, June 1

Tree Stewards

A tree care and identification training (Tree Stewards) will be offered to community members from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Cityview Community school in Minneapolis with lunch provided after the class.

Volunteer planting

A volunteer planting is scheduled to begin after the Tree Stewards class (noon) at the intersection of N 4th St. and 36th Avenue in Minneapolis. Attendance at the Tree Stewards class is not required to help with the planting.

Sign up to attend.

Project updates and next steps

Stay tuned here for additional details and how to register for the training, planting, or both.

For more information about this project, Contact Leslie Alcantar Mejia at leslie.alcantarmejia@hennepin.us.

Hennepin County was recently awarded a $10 million Urban and Community Forestry grant from the U.S. Forest Service to remove diseased trees, plant trees, educate residents, and support businesses and workforce development. The project will improve resilience to climate change, pests, storms, and extreme heat events.

This grant is part of more than $1 billion awarded to 385 projects nationwide and $33 million in Minnesota. This historic funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will support projects that increase tree cover in disadvantaged communities, as identified in the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.

County grant will remove and replace diseased trees

With the grant funding, Hennepin County forestry will help homeowners with low incomes get trees removed and replaced from their properties. County foresters will also educate residents about tree care and the benefits of trees. This funding addresses a significant need identified by community members as the emerald ash borer has swept through the county.

County foresters have heard from residents about the overwhelming financial burden of removing a diseased tree. Without help, some residents could be at risk of losing their home to tax forfeiture if the property is assessed for the removal of a tree. Many others aren’t likely to be able to afford to replace the removed tree, which furthers the disparities in the urban tree canopy.

Workforce development

To accomplish this work, the county will prioritize contracting with small and women-and-minority-owned tree removal businesses and expand county and community-based workforce development programs to employ teens and young adults to plant and maintain trees.

There will be two new workforce programs created as well as the continuation of The Forestry Productive Day program. The new programs will include an adult arborist apprenticeship program and an introductory tree maintenance program for high school aged youth. The arborist apprenticeship program will take the participants through hands on training that includes tree identification, proper pruning techniques, tree climbing, common hand tool use and safety, removal of trees and the different techniques used for removals, exposure and training on removal equipment, chainsaw use and safety, chipper use and safety, proper protective equipment use, equipment maintenance, tree planting and maintenance, common pests and pathogens, tree defects and decay fungi as well as the Minnesota Tree Inspector certification. The youth program will teach tree identification, pruning, watering, and other tree care and maintenance skills.

Forestry Productive Day is a workforce development program managed by the Hennepin County Department of Corrections. The crews are made up of individuals who may have had previous contact with corrections and have found themselves to be under employed. While in the field, Productive Day crews are trained on tree planting, watering, felling, chipping and other maintenance activities. There will be one youth crew and one adult crew working on grant activities for the duration of the grant.

Timeline and next steps

This grant will take place from 2024 through 2029.

April to September 2024

• Hire a county project manager and two field staff
• Issue a request for proposals (RFP) and hire tree removal contractors
• Develop communications materials and outreach plan
• Build a web page for engagement and online forms for resident applications
• Contract with 1 to 2 community-based organizations to support outreach and engagement and hire a consultant to support communications and tracking metrics
• Begin outreach and engagement
• Notify and screen homeowners for tree removal and replacement
• Contract with 1 or 2 green jobs providers to train youth and young adults
• Launch workforce development programs and continue Productive Day programs as pilot approaches with full implementation beginning 2025

September 2024 through March 2029

• Assess the first year of the project
• Complete year-one reporting
• Adjust the program as-needed based on assessment
• Implement the program fully during spring and summer of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028

Learn more about the grant project at a community meeting

Learn about the grant at a hybrid community meeting. The next meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the University of Minnesota Urban Research Center (UROC), Room 107.

• RSVP to the March 14 meeting
• Map to UROC, 2001 Plymouth Avenue N, Minneapolis

Grants also awarded to cities and other entities in Hennepin County

Cities and other entities within the county that also received Urban and Community Forestry grants include: The City of Minneapolis ($8 million), The City of Richfield (nearly $500,000), Great River Greening ($10 million), and The University of Minnesota ($1.7 million).

Updates and questions

Subscribe to the grant update newsletter on this page to receive email updates as Hennepin County’s grant work progresses.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this organization is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all ofthe information requested in the form. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Hennepin County is an equal opportunity provider.

Funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service.