A check for $11,000 recently was presented by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Urban Forester Tyler Trantham to officials at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) as part of the university’s participation in the Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) Grant program.

The TRIM Grant Program is a competitive cost-share grant program administered by the local MDC office that provides reimbursement of $1,000 to $11,000 to assist government agencies, public schools and non-profit groups with the management, improvement or conservation of trees on public lands.

University officials are using the funds to maintain and renew the urban forest in and around campus. This includes trimming 40 trees on campus, removing six trees determined to be in poor health, planting 10 new trees around campus and providing educational literature to the Garnett Library.

The funds also will be used to continue MSU-WP’s Arbor Day program to build tree awareness among faculty, staff and students, university officials said.

The TRIM Grant is an ongoing program that is available to any municipality, park department or public school in the area. More information can be obtained by contacting the local MDC office at 417-256-7161.