Federal DEI Cuts Cost Pensacola $1M Tree Grant

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Pensacola has lost a $1 million federal grant meant for restoring its urban forest thanks to cuts in diversity and inclusion programs. The grant was awarded in 2023 by the Us Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. It was tailored to support inner-city communities through "equitable access to trees." City arborist Chase Crawford says the city was able to find other funds to keep an intern that was previously hired with grant funds, and he says despite losing the funding they will still have roughly $250-thousand dollars to spend on new tree cover from the city's 'Tree Trust Fund.' Mayor DC Reeves says trees are essential -- especially as sidewalks get very hot without enough shade.