Applications are now open for the USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grants which must be submitted by October 5th at 8:00pm. A webinar is scheduled for August 31st and a Zoom meeting will be held on September 7th.
The CWDG is federal grant program that’s intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes with planning for and mitigating against the risk created by wildfire. $200M per year will be available over the next 5 years through CWDG nationally.
CWDG funds three types of projects:
- The development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans
- The updating of Community Wildfire Protection Plans
- The implementation of projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan and/or
Hazard Mitigation Plan with a Wildfire Section that is less than ten years old.
Funding is not available for fire suppression training, equipment, or supplies.
Any community at risk to wildfire can apply, including:
- Local government
- Tribes
- Non-profit organizations (including Homeowner Associations)
- State forestry agency
Applicants will need to complete and submit an online grant proposal by October 5th 8:00pm through cwdg.forestrygrants.org. Applicants will need to request a unique application link for each proposal through the WA State point of contact, Guy Gifford, . A fillable pdf version of the application can be found here to use while developing the content for the application.
You must also register at SAM.gov to create a Unique Entity ID if you do not already have one. Detailed grant information and eligible project examples can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Western States and Territories.
For more information, download the flier on this grant program.