Invasive Species Cost Share Programs

The SWCD is currently offering multiple cost share programs to help Hamilton County landowners offset the cost of invasive species removal and restoration. These programs are funded via a Clean Water Indiana Grant. 

Learn more about each program below.

Invasive Species Removal & Restoration Cost Share

The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Invasive Species Cost-Share Program is an incentive program intended to defray landowner costs for invasive species removal and restoration of ecosystems with native species.

​The goal of this program is to help landowners practice better environmental stewardship by providing financial assistance for the implementation of ecosystem management that would not otherwise be implemented without financial assistance.​

This program is geared toward larger parcels or woodlands with invasive species issues.  This particular program does not cover the removal of large invasive landscape trees (program for that coming soon!).  Our native for invasive trade in program is another great option for home landscapes with few invasive species.

• The Invasive Species Cost-Share Program is a 50% matching grant; the Participant is required to contribute half of the project costs either financially or in-kind (contributions of goods or services/time).
• The program provides reimbursement funds upon the completion of the project according to the outlined management plan and timeline. Up front payments of funds are available in extenuating circumstances and with board approval.
• Practice reimbursement rates are based on actual costs but may not exceed the amount approved in the cost-share application. The maximum grant award is $4,000.
• Review the Program Info & Policy document (button below) for more details on the program.
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Scroll down to see how to get started!
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​Questions?  Email [email protected]

Program Info & Policy

Blank/fillable W-9

Application Deadlines

June 1st*
September 1st*
December 1st*
March 1st*

*A complete application requires a site visit and development of a management plan by the SWCD technician. This process can take several weeks so it is necessary to start the "application process" at least 3-4 weeks ahead of the deadline.*

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How to get started

Did you know?

Home owners associations (HOA's), parks, schools, and other entities are eligible for cost share funding through the cost share program!

Landscape Callery Pear Removal Cost Share

This program received a large amount of interest and the funding as all been allocated at this time.  We are actively looking for new funding sources for this effort.  If you would like to be notified if/when applications reopen, please submit your name and email in the form below. 

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The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Callery Pear Removal Program is an incentive program intended to defray landowner costs for removal of mature, standalone, landscape callery pear trees.  The goal of this program is to help landowners practice better environmental stewardship by providing financial assistance for the removal of invasive pear trees that would not otherwise be removed without financial assistance.

What does the program cover?

• For approved applicants, the program will cover 50% of removal costs for removal of any variety of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana). Common names include but are not limited to: Bradford, Aristocrat, Cleveland Select, Chanticleer.  
• The maximum award per property is $400.
• Trees must be mature and have a trunk at least 20 inches in circumference at ~4 feet off the ground to qualify and be in a landscape setting.
• Treatment of the cut stump with an appropriate herbicide within 30 minutes of the last trunk cut is required.  Your contractor may be able to provide this service. See our stump treatment and herbicide guide here.
• Smaller trees that do not require a contractor for removal do not qualify and are a better fit for our native for invasive trade in program.
• Callery pear infestations that have naturalized into wooded areas do not qualify and are a better fit for our more comprehensive invasive species cost share program (above). 
• This is a cost share program, approved participants work directly with the contractor of their choice and pay that contractor in full. Look below for information on our partner contractors who are offering discounts to participants! Approved participants will be eligible for a cost share reimbursement payment directly to the landowner.
• Participants are also eligible to apply for the native for invasive trade in program. 

Supporting partners
Get more money back by using one of our supporting partners who are offering discounted rates on invasive callery pear removal!
These contractors are offering a 20-30% discount on removal of callery pear trees!  When using one of these supporting partners, you're cost share grant will be based off of the non-discounted rate of removal so you save even more money!

​Climbing High Tree Service
317-646-5117

Nature’s Canopy
(317) 353-4944
[email protected]
​www.naturescanopy.com

Engledow Tree Experts LLC
317-672-4307
www.EngledowTreeExperts.com

Complete Tree Care
317-738-2518
​[email protected]

How to get started:
This program received a large amount of interest and the funding as all been allocated at this time.  We are actively looking for new funding sources for this effort.  If you would like to be notified if/when applications reopen, please submit your name and email in the form above. 

• Review the program application here.
• Contact the contractor(s) of your choice to get a written quote(s).  Please note that the quote must only cover callery pear removal-- any other work must be on a separate quote.
• Submit the cost share application which includes uploading photos the tree(s), the circumference measurement of the tree(s), and uploading the quote of the contractor you intend on working with.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and you will be notified of your approval/denial within two weeks.
• Once approved, the landowner has two months to have the tree removed and submit the final paperwork which includes photos and a receipt/invoice showing the full payment to the contractor.

Landscape Callery Pear Removal Program Policy

Chipping Grants

More info coming soon.

Native for Invasive Trade In Program

Hamilton County residents who remove invasive species are eligible to apply for free native replacements from our fall native tree sale. Learn more at the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership website here. 

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These grants were made possible by a Clean Water Indiana Grant.​