FY25 Community Wildfire Defense Grant - Grant Opportunity

Workforce Services Information Notice
WSIN24-20

Issued: December 3, 2024

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) is pleased to announce the availability of up to $200 million in funding for the FY25 Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 under the USDA’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program, as authorized by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The USDA anticipates awarding approximately 100 grants with awards of up to $10 million.

Purpose of the Grant

The purpose of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant is to assist at-risk local communities and Indian Tribes with planning and mitigating against the risk created by wildfire.   

The grant prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, and/or have been impacted by a severe disaster. More details on these three priorities can be found in the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs).

There are two primary project types for which the grant provides funding:  

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

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include the following:

  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • City or township governments
  • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • State governments
  • County governments
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Special district governments
  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Note – Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible for funding under this NOFO.

Funding Details

  • Total funding available: $200 million
  • Number of anticipated awards: 100 grants
  • Grant amounts: up to $10 million, no minimum award

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 28, 2025.

How to Apply

For more information and to apply, please visit the USDA website for the CWDG Program or submit your application through Grants.gov via Funding Opportunity Number USDA-FS-2024-CWDG-CWSF.

/s/ KIMBERLEE MEYER, Chief
Central Office Workforce Services Division