As summer heat descends over the Denver metro, people will look to shade for relief. Most will find that in trees, but others will have to look elsewhere. "We have to make sure in 30 years we have livable cool spaces," Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) urban forest manager Carrie Tomlinson said. "A good solid 14 -15% canopy cover will reduce the ambient temperature up to 8 degrees in any particular setting. So if you’re talking the difference between 103 degrees and 95 degrees, I would take the 95." Tomlinson said in an effort to make sure all communities in Colorado are on the right side of the math, CSFS is offering grants up to $250,000 for tree canopy development. "We have right now $1.6 million that is open to any community, community group, any group that is representative of a DI or disproportionately impacted community," Tomlinson explained. "There's a large amount in the state." Tomlinson said this grant is looking at communities that didn't receive Colorado Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. She said eligible communities are those shaded grey in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. "In terms of trees, having those communities come together and unify their efforts and come up with a vision and have their people be a part of putting a plan in place is what we’re doing, too," Tomlinson said. Applications are due before July 31, 2024. Tomlinson said grant awardees will be notified in September and then a team from CSFS will help plan and implement a strategy to plant trees by spring 2025. "I call trees 'people glue,' because I think of all the things we have in our urban environment and trees are one of those things that everyone can relate to and are important to everyone," Tomlinson said.