ST. LOUIS – A major tree-planting effort in the St. Louis region has been halted due to federal funding cuts, raising concerns that other community-based environmental services could also be at risk.

St. Louis nonprofit Beyond Housing had been expecting two grants this month – one from the Arbor Day Foundation and another from the CDC – to help plant 1,000 new trees for Arbor Day, observed on April 25.

Chris Krehmeyer, President and CEO of Beyond Housing, tells FOX 2 that both grants were unexpectedly rescinded last month as part of broader federal cuts impacting the USDA Forest Service.

“We were in the middle of carrying out the [Arbor Day Foundation] grant,” said Krehmeyer in a recent phone call with FOX 2. “The grant was approved. We have staff carrying out the grant, doing the work, and then the rug got pulled out underneath these particular programs. So obviously, that harms our mission.”

The Arbor Day Foundation grant was designed to strengthen the region’s urban tree canopy and support an annual effort to plant 1,000 trees, most notably in the City of St. Louis and north St. Louis County. Krehmeyer says these trees play a critical role in improving air quality and reducing heat in areas that often lack adequate shade.

Meanwhile, the CDC grant supported community health workers who provide frontline service to families dealing with chronic diseases, like asthma and diabetes. 

Both grants are no longer available. In the eyes of Krehmeyer, the setbacks aren’t just about trees. They’re also about the long-term health and resilience of local neighborhoods.

“We’ve been working hard with a lot of our partners and creating great opportunities for change in the St. Louis region, building homes, rehabbing homes, serving families, and working with local leaders,” said Krehmeyer. “Quite frankly, we don’t want to see that work harmed. We don’t want to see any backsliding on a positive movement of property values.”

Krehmeyer says many closely involved with the Arbor Day tree-planting project are frustrated by the manner in which the grants were rescinded.

“It’s damaging and harmful for what we’re trying to get done in the community, and quite frankly, what we’re expecting,” he said. “We think there should be a better way to do this.”

According to a report from St. Louis Public Radio, other organizations, such as Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery, have also been affected by federal cuts. Together, they had planned to plant 3,000 trees and give away 600 more for Arbor Day.

Krehmeyer is also concerned about the impacts on community health workers who partner with Beyond Housing and similar programs around St. Louis.

“As of now, we are really concerned about whether we can keep our community health workers on staff because the funding source has been eliminated,” said Krehmeyer. “We know communities like ours have a much higher per capita of chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. So taking health workers off the streets is going to have a negative impact on the health and well-being of the families that live there.”

Beyond Housing has been active in the St. Louis region for nearly 15 years. The nonprofit focuses on building and rehabbing homes and properties while supporting families and working closely with local leaders.

Krehmeyer said the organization is now searching for additional resources to sustain its tree-planting efforts and retain federal workers. He is hopeful that community members, corporations and foundations will step up to help.

“Now, more than ever, we need people to step up – whether it’s individual contributions, corporate contributions, or foundation contributions – to help us navigate through these uncertain times,” said Krehmeyer. “Any support we can get to maintain the programs and support we can get to make sure families stay healthy in our communities and have a strong environment will be greatly appreciated.”