dipayanroyadminPosted in Emergency Grants

Wildfires have become a growing threat to communities across the United States, destroying homes, natural habitats, and infrastructure. To help communities better prepare for and prevent such disasters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program. This initiative supports local efforts to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and safeguard lives and property.

What Is the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)?

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant is a federal program administered by the USDA Forest Service. It provides financial assistance to at-risk communities—especially those located in or near fire-prone wildland areas. The goal of the grant is to help these communities develop or update Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and carry out fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation projects.

Established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021), the program is a key part of the nation’s strategy to combat increasing wildfire risks caused by climate change, drought, and urban expansion into forested areas.

Why the program exists

Wildfires in many parts of the U.S. have increased in frequency, size, and destructiveness due to combinations of climate change, forest‐and‐land‐management practices, and expanded development into high-risk areas. The CWDG is part of a broader federal strategy to address these trends. For example:

  • It aligns with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, which defines three national goals:
    1. Restore and maintain resilient landscapes.
    2. Create fire-adapted communities.
    3. Improve wildfire response.
  • The IIJA funding was intended to provide new resources for communities to proactively reduce wildfire risk—rather than only react after fires.

Who is eligible

The eligible applicants include various entities representing or serving at-risk communities.

Eligible Applicant Types:

  • Local governments (cities, counties) representing at-risk communities.
  • Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations.
  • Non-profit organizations, including homeowner associations (HOAs), that serve or represent eligible communities.
  • State forestry agencies or other state units responsible for fire/prairie/forest programs.

Eligibility of projects / communities:

  • The area must be identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential.
  • Priority is given to communities that are low-income (or economically disadvantaged).
  • Priority also to communities that have been impacted by a “severe disaster” within the past 10 years, which in turn increased their wildfire risk or hazard.
  • Note: Federal lands managed by agencies (like national forests) are generally not eligible as the project site under this grant—rather non-federal lands or collaborations.

Funding Amounts and Duration

Grant awards typically range from $250,000 to $10 million, depending on the scale and impact of the proposed project. The funding covers planning, labor, equipment, and implementation costs. Many projects span two to five years, ensuring long-term community benefits

What the funds can be used for

There are two core categories:

  1. Planning / CWPP development or update
    • Create or revise a Community Wildfire Protection Plan or equivalent document with a wildfire component.
    • Award cap: Up to US$ 250,000 per community/tribe for this type.
    • Required non-federal match: Typically 10% of requested funds.
  2. Implementation of CWPP projects
    • Projects must be identified in a CWPP (or hazard mitigation plan with wildfire component) that is less than ten years old.
    • Examples: hazardous fuel reduction (clearing brush, thinning trees, prescribed burn), creating defensible space, community evacuation access improvements, etc.
    • Award cap: Up to US$ 10 million per community/tribe for this type.
    • Required non-federal match: Generally 25% of requested funds (unless waiver).

What the funds do not cover:

  • Fire suppression training, equipment or supplies are explicitly excluded.
  • Projects must be completed within a specified time (often within five years of award obligation).

How applications work & timeline

  • Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is posted on Grants.gov and other portals when open.
  • Applicants must register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before submission.
  • Applications are competitive: reviewers evaluate project merit, alignment with program priorities (hazard potential, low-income, past disaster), readiness, budget, match, etc.
  • Application windows: For example, Round 3 applications for this program had a deadline of March 14, 2025 (for one region).
  • The USFS reported in September 2025 awarding ~$200 million to 58 projects across 22 states and 2 Tribes.

Why this matters for communities

  • Wildfire risk is not just a forestry problem—it affects homes, infrastructure, evacuation routes, utilities, public safety, and community resilience. The grant helps communities proactively reduce risk rather than react.
  • By developing or updating CWPPs, communities get a roadmap: identifying hazard zones, prioritizing treatments, coordinating stakeholders (landowners, fire agencies, local government).
  • By implementing projects, communities can reduce fuel loads, improve defensible space, enhance evacuation access, protect infrastructure, and increase resilience.
  • For underserved and tribal communities, this grant offers scaled support and can leverage federal investment in areas historically under-resourced.

Challenges and key considerations

  • Match funding requirement: Even though the share is modest (10% or 25%), the community must identify non-federal funds or in-kind contributions. Underserved or tribal communities may qualify for waivers.
  • Project readiness & eligibility of CWPP: For implementation projects, the CWPP or relevant plan must be current (less than 10 years old) and the project must be specifically identified in it. Otherwise disqualification risk.
  • Competitive environment: Demand exceeds supply—e.g., 573 applications seeking $1.6 billion in Round 3.
  • Time for registration & prep: Entities need to allow time for SAM registration, budget prep, coordination with regional/state forestry contacts. Poor timing might hamper the ability to submit a strong proposal.
  • Scope & focus: Projects should clearly respond to wildfire hazard and contribute to the goals of the program—not tangentially related. Applicants must articulate hazard reduction, community benefit, monitoring, etc.
  • Federal procurement, audit, and oversight rules: Because these are federal grants, recipients must adhere to federal rules (e.g., cost principles, reporting, monitoring). That may add administrative burden.

Steps a community could take to pursue this

  1. Assess community wildfire risk: Determine wildfire hazard potential in your community (check hazard maps, state forestry data).
  2. Check prior CWPP status: If your community has a CWPP, check its age. If it’s >10 years old or non-existent, you might apply for the planning category.
  3. Engage stakeholders: Local government, fire agency, landowners, homeowners associations, tribal government (if applicable) should collaborate.
  4. Establish match funding: Identify where the non-federal match will come from (local funds, state contributions, in-kind).
  5. Register in SAM.gov: If your entity is not already registered, set this up early.
  6. Consult state/regional contacts: Many states have points of contact for CWDG; coordination improves proposal quality.
  7. Craft proposal: Provide clear narrative: risk context, hazard assessment, plan or project description, budget, match, schedule, expected outcomes.
  8. Submit within open window: Watch for NOFO announcements and deadlines.
  9. If funded, manage implementation: Track progress, adhere to federal rules, report on metrics (e.g., acres treated, homes protected), maintain documentation.
  10. Monitor benefits & follow-up: Consider sustainability, maintenance of treated areas, community education.

Example outcomes

  • In Round 3 (2025), the USDA announced $200 million awarded to 58 selected projects across 22 states and 2 Tribes.
  • Projects include hazardous vegetation removal, improving evacuation corridors, and updating CWPPs in severely affected areas.
  • Example: In Alaska for Round 3, among the awarded grants was ~$250,000 for a CWPP development by the Bristol Bay Native Association.

Implications & broader context

  • This grant program represents a shift toward proactive wildfire risk reduction rather than solely suppression.
  • The program also signals recognition of wildfire risk in more geographic areas (not just “typical” fire states) and attention to equity (low-income, tribal, underserved).
  • For communities, participation can lead to greater coordination with state and federal agencies, improved resilience, and possibly access to other supportive funds.
  • Given climate change and land-use trends, programs like CWDG may become increasingly important for local government, fire authorities, and land managers.
  • For smaller or rural communities, the planning-grant category (up to $250K) may be particularly important as a first step to build capacity before implementation grants.
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