Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program
Community Wildfire Defense Grants (CWDG) help communities and Tribes plan for and reduce wildfire risk and implement the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.
Launched in 2022, the $1 billion five-year competitive grant program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law prioritizes communities that:
Are in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential,
Are low income or,
Have been impacted by a severe disaster within the previous 10 years which increased wildfire risk and/or hazard.
Funds can be used to:
Develop and revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans
Implement projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that are less than ten years old.
News and Announcements 2024
News release: Communities at risk from wildfires can now apply for funding
Apply now for a Community Wildfire Defense Grant. Notices of funding opportunities are available on Grants.gov. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 28, 2025. Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop proposals in consultation with state or Forest Service regional cooperative fire contacts listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Please note there are significant changes to eligibility for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program from previous application periods. This is due to Wildfire Risk to Communities (WRC) undergoing a comprehensive update to Version 2 on May 2, 2024. WRC Version 2 uses the best available science and includes updated input data for fuels, weather and housing, as well as new and improved methodologies.
Due to this update to WRC Version 2, some communities, counties and tribal areas that were not eligible in previous application periods are now eligible. However, some communities, counties and tribal areas have lost eligibility with WRC Version 2. The decision has been made for this application period only that previously eligible communities, counties and tribal areas will have their eligibility extended for this application period only. No commitment has been made to extend eligibility in the next application period to those potential applicants that would lose eligibility with this updated data.
View the WRC CWDG Tool.
You may view information regarding communities, counties and tribal areas that had a change in eligibility status (XLSX, 244 KB).
Opportunities are Categorized into Four Groups
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for projects that will be carried out by Indian Tribes. While this Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is specifically for Tribes, they may also apply under the corresponding state NOFO as well.
This is for projects that will be carried out within the footprint of the Western States and Territories (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Territory of American Samoa, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Territory of Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands). Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations in this regional footprint can apply through either this notice or the Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations specific notice.
This is for projects that will be carried out within the footprint of the Northeast-Midwest States (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations in this regional footprint can apply through either this notice or the Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations specific notice.
This is for projects that will be carried out within the footprint of the Southern States (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, and for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations in this regional footprint can apply through either this notice or the Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Corporations specific notice.
Applicant Webinars
The application process in Round 3 is the same for all applicants. Any applicant in any region, area, or Tribe may view any webinar as they all have the same content, however, the December 4th webinar focused on Tribal applications and Tribal application Q&A.
Recordings of each session are available here:
(Tribal focused) December 4 CWDG Applicant Webinar Recording
In addition to the webinars above, the Forest Service will be offering periodic "office hours" for applicants throughout the application period. Office Hours will not be recorded. Registration is not required. You'll need to enter the six digit passcode below to join the online meeting.
The following is the office hours schedule for January/February 2025:
Jan 8: 1-3 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-1 p.m. MT
Jan 22: 3-5 p.m. ET/1-3 p.m. MT
Feb 5: 1-3 p.m. ET/11 a.m.-1 p.m. MT
Feb 19: 2-4 p.m. ET/12-2 p.m MT
Feb 26: 3-5 p.m. ET/1-3 p.m. MT
To join the Office Hours Zoom Meeting at the dates and times listed above, go to https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84970312284?pwd=Mv3wKn4i936VvSaPA1UMYycReyVeKT.1
Meeting ID: 849 7031 2284
Passcode: 528561
To join by phone, call
+17193594580,,84970312284# US
+17207072699,,84970312284# US (Denver)
What is the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program?
Are you interested in helping to protect your community and/or the natural resources in your area, but are unsure where to start? Begin here by discovering:
Who is Eligible to Apply and How?
Previously Funded Proposals
From Federal Support to Local Action
Learn how the CWDG has reduced wildfire risk to communities across the country.
Going on the Offensive in the South
Communities across the South are taking action now to mitigate against the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Evacuation Highway
Grant paves the way for safer wildfire escape in rural central Washington.
A Blueprint for Fire Prevention
Lake County California puts federal support to local action.
Powering Through
Protecting the wires in the face of wildfire threats.
