Applications due by Oct. 31

Intended to help at-risk communities and Native American tribes reduce wildfire risk, these grants— funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — focus on the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: 

• Restore and Maintain Landscapes 
• Create Fire Adapted Communities 

• Improve Wildfire Response

Eligibility 

Open to communities, tribes, local government units, and non-profits.  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). 

Project funding can be used on private, local, county, state, and tribal lands. Federal lands are not eligible for this funding opportunity except for tribal trust lands.

Funding 

Two primary project types will be funded:

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 Resources 

Use the CWDG Dashboard to get specific information related to grant priorities based on the city, county, or tribal area. Information such as low-income information, disaster impacts, wildfire hazard potential, and cost-share waiver eligibility can be copy and pasted into the application. 

Join a virtual office hour Zoom meeting to ask questions about the application, portal, or process.  

• October 11: From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Eastern); or from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Mountain), Must Register in Advance to Attend Webinar. 

• October 25: From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern); or from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Mountain), Must Register in Advance to Attend Webinar. 

View the Notice of Funding Opportunity for Northeast-Midwest CWDG Grant Opportunity which provides guidance documents and instructions on how to apply. 

How to Apply 

The deadline for applications is 10:59 p.m. central time on October 31, 2023. 

• Applicants must contact their regional Firewise Specialist for a unique link to apply. 
• Applicants will use a new CWDG portal to apply this year. 
• View the guidance documents and instructions on applying for the Northeast-Midwest CWDG Grant Opportunity (opportunity number USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-NEMW) on grants.gov. 

Important: Applicants must also register on sam.gov. Do this promptly; this registration can take several weeks or more to complete. 

This is the second year of a multi-year opportunity.