Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree Lives on Despite Loss of Federal Funding

Authors: Jennifer Young, Columbia Green Board President and Brian Neiger, Superintendent of Forestry and Beautification, City of Columbia Public Works Department

As of February 20th, 2025, Columbia Green and the City of Columbia received official notice that federal funding for the Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree program has ended. This initiative represents a vital collaboration between the City and Columbia Green, with the aim of distributing trees for planting on private properties throughout the community.

Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree

Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree is an initiative to give away thousands of trees to property owners in greater Columbia to mitigate urban heat, improve air quality, handle stormwater runoff, and provide health and economic benefits to our community. As Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said at our inaugural event, “Trees are so important for our environment and studies show that they improve health and air quality, reduce energy bills and overall heat, and can lower stress levels and respiratory illnesses.” Healthy urban forests and clean water benefit everyone.

Unfortunately, in many areas of our city, lack of tree canopy has led to extreme summer heat causing health and environmental hazards for thousands of residents.

Why is Planting Trees so Important?

The rationale behind establishing this initiative was clear: the City of Columbia has experienced a significant loss of 22% of its urban canopy, largely due to tree removal and development on private properties. By distributing trees in these deforested areas, we hoped to spark a community movement aimed at restoring and replanting the urban forest in Columbia. The intent was to create a lasting connection to nature. While residents often don’t notice existing trees when moving into a new home, they will always cherish the memory of the trees their grandparents planted, signifying roots and heritage.

Federal Funding Supported Planting Trees in Over 50 Columbia Neighborhoods

The federal grant we received through the USDA funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was modest in comparison to many others nationwide, requesting a total of only $300,000. The program's primary objective was ambitious yet achievable: to give away 1,500 trees to residents in targeted areas of the city over five years. To support this initiative, quarterly meetings were held, offering educational sessions that covered the numerous benefits of trees and practical guidance on how to plant and maintain them effectively.

All property owners in greater Columbia were invited to apply for free trees. Federal funds provided through the IRA paid for trees for residents in Justice40 census tracts, and Columbia Green agreed to secure funding for trees outside those neighborhoods. Every tree was provided alongside a watering device called a TreeDiaper, designed to help retain moisture during the critical early growth period.

Beat the Heat’s Impact

The program had an immediate impact. Officially beginning in July 2024, in its first six months, there were approximately 1,200 requests for trees, with about 900 applications coming from outside the targeted Justice40 areas. This presented a significant challenge and highlighted the important partnership between the City of Columbia and Columbia Green. Thanks to the proactive efforts of Columbia Green’s board members, funding was secured to supply trees in areas not served by the grant, vastly extending the program’s reach. To date, we have been able to fund all 1,200 trees, largely through private donations to Columbia Green.

Beat the Heat Will Continue

Although federal funding has been abruptly withdrawn, the vision and commitment behind Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree will continue to thrive under Columbia Green’s capable stewardship in partnership with the City and other groups concerned about restoring Columbia’s urban canopy. Community members are encouraged to contribute by volunteering their time, advocating for the initiative with our elected officials, and by making financial donations.

Your support will help ensure this important cause remains alive and flourishing in Columbia, fostering a greener and more sustainable future for everyone.