Speaker: Basil Thomson, Ulman Public Policy and Bob Rouse, Tree Care Industry Association
Describing and marketing professionalism in tree care for contracting agencies is an ongoing problem. TCIA, ISA, and other green industry partners are banding together to provide a solution. This session will review our solutions, including some valuable, new resources.
The allocation of $1.5 billion in funds for the United States Forest Service (USFS) to distribute as grants for tree planting and maintenance, career pathways into arboriculture and other related projects revealed significant gaps in comprehension regarding the tree care profession. Grantees and other agencies and clients lack the understanding and resources to contract for tree work with professional companies and to verify that completed work meets industry standards. Furthermore, grantees seeking to provide and prepare workers for career opportunities in the tree care industry lack access to and knowledge of credentials and training programs. TCIA is banding together ISA and other green industry groups to lead the development of a green industry clearing house that provides the base knowledge and resources that grant recipients, such as pass-through grantees, municipalities, non-profits, and community-based organizations, and clients need to recognize and contract for professional tree services and provide new career pathways into arboriculture.
The project will include:
- A Tree Care Industry Resource Hub where contracting agencies can find resources that help them understand what it means to be a professional tree care company, the related credentials that professional tree care companies and professional arborists hold, and the resources needed to help them contract with those professionals.
- An outreach program to encourage IRA grantees, municipalities, government agencies, commercial companies and other contractors to use these resources in order to contract with professional tree care companies and arborists.