Protecting communities from wildfire begins with planning and requires preventive measures be taken. The Community Wildfire Defense Grant program offers financial assistance to at-risk communities for the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) and associated mitigation projects. The program is authorized in Public Law 117-58, commonly referred to as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
This grant funds projects for two primary objectives: the development and revision of Community Wildfire Protection Plans, and the implementation of projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that is less than 10 years old. The Act prioritizes at-risk communities that are 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.
Funding Requirements
All applications funded under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program require the applicant to provide matching funds. The required match by the applicant is as follows:
- Not less than 10% for development or revision of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
- Not less than 25% for project implementation as described in a CWDG that is not more than 10 years old.
Eligibility
Eligible counties and communities in Virginia may apply for this federal grant administered by Virginia Department of Forestry to plan for and mitigate risks created by wildfire. Counties and communities that are eligible can be found in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan At-Risk Communities Eligibility spreadsheet in the resources below.
Full details about the program are in the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Instructions provided in the resources below.
To Apply
Visit federal grant application to apply.
Application Deadline
February 28, 2025
Additional Resources
For full details about this opportunity, visit USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program.
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Community Wildfire Defense Grant At-Risk Communities Eligibility List | This Community Wildfire Defense Grant At-Risk Communities Eligibility List provides a comprehensive listing of all counties and communities that are eligible to apply for these grant funds. | Resource | View | financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response fire-and-emergency-response | resource | |
 | Community Wildfire Defense Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity Instructions | This document provides detailed instructions about the Community Wildfire Defense Grant including eligibility, application process, required matching funds, how proposals are ranked, reporting requirements, and more. | Resource | View | financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response fire-and-emergency-response | resource | |
| Community Wildfire Defense Grants Tool | This USDA Forest Service tool helps helps navigate the CWDG grants and is a great place to get started determining eligibility and scoring. | Resource | View | financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response fire-and-emergency-response | resource | |
 | Virginia Department of Forestry Grants – Frequently Asked Questions | Document answers the most common questions asked about forestry grants, including application requirements, qualifying expenses, reimbursements and other how do I… questions. | Document | View | finance urb financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response | document |
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