Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program

The CWDG is a grant program funded by the U.S. Forest Service and administered by the CSFS intended to help at-risk local communities and tribes plan for and reduce wildfire risk. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorizes the $1 billion, 5-year CWDG program, with $200 million funding amounts anticipated for the third round that opened Nov. 21. 2024. 

Interested applicants should contact the CSFS to learn more. 

This funding opportunity prioritizes at-risk communities in areas that have ALL the following characteristics:

• High or very high wildfire hazard potential
• Low-income 
• Impacted by a severe disaster that affects wildfire risk within last 10 years

Communities can use the funding for two primary purposes:

1. Develop and revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP)
2. Implement projects described in a CWPP less than 10 years old

The CWDG also helps communities in the wildland-urban interface implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. 

Federal funding caps

• $250,000 for creating or updating a CWPP
• $10 million for implementing a project described in a CWPP less than 10 years old 

Qualified applicants must be at-risk communities within one of these categories:

• Units of local governments
• Native American tribes
• Non-profit organizations
• Homeowner association (HOA)
• State forestry agencies (including U.S. territories and interests)
• Alaska Native Corporations

1. CWPP implementation projects are for a qualifying activity
   • Projects must be on private, local government, HOA, state government or tribal/Alaska native corporation lands
   • Projects designed to address management of wildfire risk and/or assist a community with mitigation measures or actions to reduce wildfire risk (as identified in a CWPP not more than 10 years old)
2. Meets the cost-share match or waiver requirement
   • Cost-share match can be in the form of a cash or in-king contribution
   • Underserved areas will have waiver
3. Funds cannot be used on lands administered by the federal government; Trust lands are excepted.
4. The grant term is for a total maximum of five years.
5. Community requirements
   • Meet the definition of an at-risk community AND
   • Follow a CWPP, tribal hazard mitigation plan or FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan with a wildfire component that is less than 10 years old
   •  OR have a CWPP or FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan in place by the application deadline, and at the time of obligation of grant funds for mitigation projects and have the project(s) requested for funding described in the CWPP or similar plan

Chad Julian is the Program Manager for the CSFS: 303-579-7957   

Contact the appropriate contact in your area of Colorado as shown on our area map. 

• Northeast Area: Janae Coston-Malpas
• Northwest Area: Chazz Lakin
• Southwest Area: Todd Loubsky
• Southeast Area: Rebecca Samulski or Julie Klett