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
Application
The third round of the CWDG Program is now open.
The application deadline has been extended to 10:59 p.m. on March 18, 2025.
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 areas with high or very high wildfire hazard potential, low-income and underserved communities, and those impacted by disaster (e.g., blowdown).
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!
Contacts
Contact your DNR Regional Firewise Regional Specialist for any questions.
Applicant Resources
- USDA Forest Service CWDG webpage
- Applicant Webinars – register in advance or watch the recordings later on the USDA Forest Service CWDG webpage.
- Notice of Funding Opportunity for Northeast-Midwest CWDG Grant Opportunity - provides guidance documents and instructions on how to apply.
- CWDG Dashboard Applicants can enter their county, city, or tribal area to get specific information related to grant priorities that they can copy and paste into the application, such as low income, disaster impacts, wildfire hazard potential, and cost-share waiver eligibility.