The Colorado State Forest Service helps individuals, landowners, community groups and others secure grants and assistance for projects that promote healthy forests in Colorado, whenever opportunities arise.
Grants & Funding Assistance
Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program
In March, Governor Polis signed a bill (SB21-054) to transfer $6 million from the General Fund to the Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) grant program to address wildfire risk in Colorado. Approximately $6 million in total funding is available, and grant awards are available up to $1 million during this FRWRM grant cycle.
The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is accepting FRWRM grant applications for projects on non-federal lands in Colorado for the purposes of:
- Fuels and forest health projects, and/or
- Capacity building projects
Eligible applicants include local community groups, local government entities such as fire protection districts, public and private utilities, state agencies, and non-profit groups.
The FRWRM program was established through Senate Bill 17-050 to provide state support in the form of competitive grant funds that encourage community-level actions across the state to:
- Reduce the risk of wildfire to people, property, and infrastructure in the wildland-urban interface (WUI)
- Promote forest health and forest restoration projects
- Encourage utilization of woody material for traditional forest products and biomass energy
Successful applicants will receive final award approval with approximate project start date on August 16, 2021.
Additional information about the program purpose, requirements and eligibility can be found in the request for applications (RFA). Applicants should contact local CSFS Field Offices for support and guidance in developing projects and applications.
Past FRWRM grant recipients include non-profit groups, conservation districts, fire departments, fire protection districts, homeowners and road associations, counties and cities. Project awards have ranged from roughly $3,000 – $250,000 for both capacity and fuels and forest health treatments in communities across Colorado.
Request for Applications
2021 FRWRM Grant Program Request for Applications (230 KB PDF)
Fuels and Forest Health Projects
2021 FRWRM Grant Instructions & Score Sheet Fuels and Forest Health Projects (240 KB PDF)
2021 FRWRM Grant Application Fuels and Forest Health Projects (244 KB PDF)
Capacity Building Projects
2021 FRWRM Grant Instructions & Score Sheet Capacity Building (234 KB PDF)
2021 FRWRM Grant Application Capacity Building (240 KB PDF)
Submit Applications to your local CSFS Field Office by May 19, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. MST
Colorado Forest Legacy Program
The Forest Legacy Program authorizes the Colorado State Forest Service or U.S. Forest Service to purchase permanent conservation easements on private forestlands to prevent those lands from being converted to non-forest uses.
The program provides an opportunity for private landowners to retain ownership and management of their land, while receiving compensation for unrealized development rights. More about the Forest Legacy Program
For more information, contact Carolyn Aspelin at (970) 491-1869.
Landowner & Community Assistance
A variety of programs for homeowners and landowners exist through the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and other natural resource agencies to assist them in managing their forested property.
The CSFS is committed to helping homeowners and landowners promote healthy and sustainable forest conditions. One of the ways we do this is by emphasizing action on state, private and other non-federal lands, and providing technical and financial assistance to those that have demonstrated a commitment to effectively manage their property.
Programs Offered through CSFS
Other Programs
The following document outlines forestry/agroforestry and cost-share programs for Colorado landowners and communities.
Grants & Assistance Database
The Colorado State Forest Service developed the Natural Resources Grants & Assistance Database to help communities, educators, government agencies, landowners, nonprofit organizations and others to more easily search for natural resource project funding and assistance programs that promote the health and welfare of Colorado’s natural resources.
The tool is free, and users are not required to register or create a password to access the system.
In addition to offering information on grants and assistance programs administered through the CSFS, the database includes those sponsored by federal, state and other organizations that are relevant to Colorado and its residents.
This online resource primarily focuses on opportunities for Colorado; however, programs in the database also may apply regionally, nationally or, in some cases, internationally.
Wildfire Mitigation Measures – Income Tax Subtraction
Colorado landowners with property located in a wildland-urban interface (WUI) area may qualify to receive a tax subtraction for the costs of wildfire mitigation work.
Limitations
- The taxpayer must own the property upon which the wildfire mitigation measures are performed.
- The property must be located in Colorado and within a wildland-urban interface area.
- For tax years 2009 through 2012 only, the wildfire mitigation measures must be authorized by a community wildfire protection plan adopted by a local government within the interface area.
- The total amount of the subtraction cannot exceed 50% of the landowner’s out-of-pocket expenses, $2,500 or the owner’s federal taxable income, whichever is less.
- The deduction is available for tax years 2009 through 2024.
As authorized by §39-22-104(4)(n)(ll)), C.R.S., for income tax years 2009 through 2024 individuals, estates and trusts may subtract from federal taxable income certain costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures.
Qualifications & Details
Please visit the Colorado Department of Revenue website