In spring 2023, following the announcement of RFPs and available funding from the Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), several key partners in Chattanooga, Tennessee gathered to compile a proposal that would launch a four-year, multi-modal tree planting initiative that would ultimately change the landscape of this mountain town forever.

As a response to the growing burden of climate change, the initiative woud seek to tap into the community-wide benefits of tree canopy - shade, lower temperatures, healthier environment, and more people outdoors.

The environmental equity-focused grant proposal was funded in spring 2024, allotting resources for tree planting, maintenance, workforce development, and community engagement for the greater Chattanooga region over the four years.

Understory is a tree-planting initiative rooted at green|spaces in the heart of Chattanooga, Tennessee focused on supporting the health and sustainability of the often overlooked layers of our community and environment - much like the understory of a forest where biodiversity thrives and new life begins.

At Understory, we grow trees in order to grow communities through engagement and environmental equity, while also growing local opportunities through workforce development in the most nature-deprived corridors of Chattanooga.

Understory is dedicated to growing stronger, more resilient communities alongside everyday citizens, volunteers, and strategic partners.

We believe in the power of trees to transform lives and create a sustainable future for generations to come.

• To foster connection person-to-person and person-to-place, positioning those most impacted by nature deprivation as community ambassadors.

• To exchange knowledge amongst a network of partners, arborists, citizens, educators, students, and creative professionals.

• To encourage curiosity through the arts, storytelling, and creative placemaking that will provoke reflection, engagement, and connection.

• To invest in health and wellness through the maintenance of trees, the well-being of communities, and the city-wide response to climate change.

• To celebrate the spirit of service by inspiring an appreciation of nature, volunteerism, and intergenerational ownership in public and private spaces.

• To cultivate leaders through a curriculum that results in tangible career pathways and a better quality of life.