COLLINSVILLE – Communities looking to spruce up their publicly-owned properties should consider visiting the Amerenillinois.com/grants site to learn more about Ameren Illinois’ Right Tree Right Place program.
Ameren has grant money available to assist municipalities to fund planting trees near city halls, schools and libraries. Municipalities can also partner with the company’s vegetation management team to identify hazardous trees that are candidates for removal.
In 2024, Ameren Illinois awarded nearly $20,000 in grants to communities throughout its 43,700-square-mile service territory.
Properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shade and winter warmth with windbreaks. Hazardous trees in public rights-of-way that are dead, dying or otherwise unstable and threatening power lines, often require removal. The grants provide municipalities with a minimum of $500 for tree planting and removal projects.
“Many towns in our service territory need help maintaining or removing trees in their communities,” said Rick Johnson, Vegetation Manager, for Ameren Illinois. “The Right Tree Right Place program can help with that burden.”
Grant funds can also be used for:
Maintenance of existing treesDeveloping a community-wide tree management planObtaining a Tree City USA certification
“We’re grateful for Ameren’s Right Tree Right Place program and the $10,000 grant that helped us bring 113 new trees to our community,” said Mike Absher, Mayor of the City of Marion. “This partnership supports our ongoing efforts to enhance Marion’s green spaces while promoting long-term sustainability and responsible planting practices.”
Trees growing in public rights-of-way, having the potential to interfere, or growing up toward powerlines will be considered for the program. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Ameren Illinois vegetation management team will coordinate tree removal with the municipality. The municipality is responsible for the removal of debris. Applications are open from April–August. Funds will be awarded in November. Each municipality may submit one grant per year.
For more information please visit: www.ameren illinois.com/grants