AUGUSTA – Grants of up to $75,000 soon will be available to towns that had damage to their trees during the 1998 ice storm.

The Maine Community Forestry Program, a cooperative partnership between the Pine Tree State Arboretum and the Maine Forest Service, is encouraging towns to apply for a new round of grants to help remove hazards, repair damage, replant trees and perform other remedial work to ensure greater safety in the event of another ice storm.

The 2002 Maine Community Forestry Ice Storm Recovery Grants Program will be administered by the Pine Tree State Arboretum.

The source of the funds is the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

Through the Maine Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service has provided Maine with $1 million for repairing damage from the devastating ice storm that struck the state almost four years ago.

Towns may apply for grants up to $75,000 which require a 25 percent match from the municipality in cash or in-kind services.

Applications are available now from the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 4, 2002, and all work must be done by Aug. 23, 2002.

For information contact the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta at 621-0031 or e-mail at ptsaso@mint.net.