Right Tree Right Place program helping Illinois communities with tree care

(WAND) — Ameren Illinois is offering grants to communities within their service area to plant trees by city halls, schools and libraries through their "Right Tree Right Place" program.

The grants provide towns across Illinois with a minimum of $500 for tree planting and removal projects.

This includes maintenance of existing trees, developing community-wide tree management plans, and getting a "Tree City USA" certification.

Towns can also team up with Ameren Illinois' vegetation management team to find and remove "hazardous trees."

In 2024, the program distributed almost $20,000 in grants to communities throughout Illinois.

"Many towns in our service territory need help maintaining or removing trees in their communities," said Rick Johnson, the vegetation manager for Ameren Illinois. "The Right Tree Right Place program can help with that burden."

Each municipality within the service range can apply for one grant per year.

Applications opened this month, and will continue through August, with the company distributing the funding in November.