Manteo, the downtown is shown here, is among 19 communities to be awarded federal funding for urban and community forestry projects. Photo: Town of Manteo social mediaFour coastal towns were selected to receive a portion of $5.6 million in federal funding awarded to 19 communities for urban and community forestry projects through North Carolina Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program. Nine communities including Emerald Isle and Manteo were funded through the Climb to Tree City USA package, which helps municipalities meet the requirements to be designated as a Tree City USA. Tree City USA is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities, according to the forest service. To learn more about urban and community forestry, the Urban and Community Forestry program and financial assistance opportunities, visit the program’s website.