The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry has received a Notice of Funding Opportunity to participate in the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG), funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and administered by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with state forestry agencies.
This five-year program, beginning in 2022, allocated $5 billion to help communities at risk of wildfires fund projects that support the three goals in the National Cohesive Strategy:
- Restoring and maintaining landscapes
- Creating fire-adapted communities
- Improving wildfire response
Eligibility
Applicants: Communities, tribes, states, and non-profits are all eligible.
Land: Project funding can be used for private, local government, homeowners’ associations, state government, and tribal lands. Federal lands are not eligible except for tribal trust lands.
Priorities: Priority will be given to low-income and underserved communities, and those impacted by disaster (e.g., blowdown) that increased wildfire risk.
The USFS Map and associated layers show eligible counties, areas that meet grant priorities, and those with current Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
Funding
Applications are being accepted for two categories
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan Development or Update
- Awards up to $250,000
- 10% cost-share match*
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan Project Implementation
- Awards up to $10 million
- 25% cost-share match*
*Full match waivers are available for underserved communities!
Application
The next round is expected to open soon (mid- to late March).
Applicants will apply through grants.gov.
Important: Applicants must register in sam.gov to apply. Apply promptly, as this registration can take several weeks or more to complete. Registration in sam.gov will create a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) used for applying through grants.gov.
Contacts
Contact your DNR Regional Firewise Regional Specialist for any questions.
Applicant Resources
- USDA Forest Service CWDG webpage
- Wildland fire learning portal for 2022 CWDG webinars. You must create an account to access the webinars.
- Pre-award guide for applicants addresses high-level and routine components of a grant.gov application.
- Email the USFS about CWDG questions and application problems.
- Book an applicant assistance meeting with the Forest Service, Office of Grants and Agreements Access Branch.