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maintain green infrastructure in SC communities to restore the region's native tree diversity.
“We will work with counties across the state to design urban forests,” said Dr. Louis Whitesides, SC State Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture. “So, we will be planting trees across the state of South Carolina, starting with our own Orangeburg County and Bamberg County.”
Whitesides said the grant will allow SC State PSA to work with landscape architects and county personnel to identify locations and design the canopies. The project also will establish multidisciplinary collaborative activities directed toward youth internships and empowerment, policy, practice, and community engagement.
“A great part of this is we will have local students – high school and college students -- trained on planting trees and maintaining tree health,” Whitesides said. “They will be responsible with paid internships for planting the trees and overseeing them.”
Saturday’s grant announcement came amid SC State PSA’s inaugural Ag & Land-Grant Celebration, a series of events showcasing the division’s impact on quality of life for individuals, families and communities. Saturday’s news conference followed a breakfast for alumni of the division’s various programs.
SC State President Alexander Conyers extended thanks to the USDA, the National Forest Service and the PSA faculty and staff for developing the tree canopy project. He said the initiative represents all aspects of SC State’s mission as a land-grant institution – agriculture, research, outreach, public service and instruction – and the strength the university lends to communities across the state.
“For 127 years, SC State has been the conduit for community development in all of these essential areas,” Conyers said. “This project is illustrative of just how much our university can do given the proper resources and relationships.
“The USDA has been a vital partner for SC State throughout its history,” Conyers said. “This $5 million award is just one example of the USDA’s investment in the well-being and progress of the communities we serve. We will continue to build on that relationship for the betterment of the people of South Carolina.”
According to the USDA, studies show that communities with access to trees and green spaces are associated with improved health outcomes, reduced crime, lower average temperatures, and an influx of other kinds of investments and new economic opportunities.
Through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Forest Service is making historic investments in boosting the nation’s tree cover in urban, suburban and rural communities nationwide.
The Forest Service selected 385 grant proposals from entities that are working to increase equitable access to trees and green spaces, and the many benefits they provide. All funding will flow to disadvantaged communities. Funded proposals are located in all 50 states, two U.S. territories, three U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands, and in several tribal communities.
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About South Carolina State University
Founded in 1896 as a land grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers’ college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools.
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