Community Wildfire Defense Grant

Purpose

Offer financial assistance to at-risk communities to plan for and reduce wildfire risk and implement the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.    

Practices

Development and revision of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) and implementation of projects described in a CWPP that is less than ten years old.  

Eligibility

Units of local government representing at-risk communities, Native American Tribes, non-profit organizations (including homeowners associations), and state forestry agencies.  

Application

The FY 2025 Community Wildfire Defense Grant application period closed on March 14, 2025. Applicants should monitor the U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant website and Grants.gov for announcements regarding future funding opportunities. 

About

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant is authorized in Public Law 117-58, “An Act to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes”, commonly referred to as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

The Act prioritizes at-risk communities that:

  • Are located in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential;
  • Are low-income communities; and/or
  • Have been impacted by a severe disaster within the previous 10 years that increased wildfire risk and/or hazard.

Eligible applicants may apply for grant funding for a project proposal to be conducted on local government, state government, Tribal, homeowners association, and privately owned lands. Provided the project proposal directly reduces wildfire risk to a community.  

Examples of project proposals include: 

  • CWPP development or revision 
  • Community wildfire risk planning
  • Wildfire prevention and mitigation education and outreach 
  • Hazardous fuels reduction and/or restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems
  • Other projects identified in an eligible CWPP that reduce wildfire risk to communities

Funding

There is no minimum federal funding limit for projects under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant.  The maximum amount of funding awarded to any applicant is:  

  • $250,000 for the creation or updating of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 
  • $10 million for projects described within a Community Wildfire Protection Plan less than ten years old 

 Cost-share is required for all applications funded under the grant that do not meet the requirements for waiver eligibility. Requirements and details on how to request a waiver are available in the Notice of Funding. Cost share rates are: 

  • No less that 10% for development or revision of a CWPP 
  • No less than 25% for project implementation as described in a CWPP that is not more than 10 years old 

Apply

  • Are you eligible?
    • Local communities and tribes at risk for wildfires can apply. Eligibility priorities include:
      • High/very high wildfire hazard
      • Low-income
      • Impacted by a severe disaster
    • 100% of Year Three selected applicants met all three priorities.
  • Are you “at-risk”?
  • What can you apply for?
    • Community Wildfire Protection Plan or project implementation. 
  • How to prepare to apply?
    • Prioritize project selection.
    • Establish a budget plan.
    • Identify matching funds or cost-share contributions.
    • Review the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
    • Coordinate with community leaders and partners.
    • Consult with Texas A&M Forest Service contacts during proposal development.
  • Who can you ask for help?
  • When can you apply?
  • Apply.

Get Started

To begin the application process, contact one of our WUI Coordinators in your region or contact the CWDG team.

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