(1)    In this section, a “nonprofit organization” means an organization that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

   (1g)   The department shall award grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, and nonprofit organizations for up to 50 percent of the cost of tree management plans, tree inventories, brush residue projects, the development of tree management ordinances, tree disease evaluations, public education concerning trees in urban areas and other tree projects.

   (1r)   In addition to the grants awarded under sub. (1g), the department may award grants to counties, cities, village, towns, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized Indian tribes or bands that apply for the grants for the costs of removing, saving, and replacing trees that have been damaged by catastrophic storm events in urban areas. To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, the damage must have occurred in an area for which the governor has designated a state of emergency due to a catastrophic storm event. The department shall notify each applicant for a grant under this subsection as to whether the application for the grant will be approved or denied within 60 days after the date the application is submitted to the department. A recipient of a grant awarded under this subsection is exempt from having to pay any percentage of the costs in order to receive the grant.

   (2)   The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for awarding grants under this section.