COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Eligible Texas communities can now apply for a federal grant to help plan for and mitigate wildfire risks.
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant, administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service, offers financial assistance to at-risk local communities for the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans and associated mitigation projects.
The grant will provide funding 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 less than 10 years old.
Entities eligible to apply are:
- Local governments representing communities in an area with a risk of wildfires
- Native American tribes
- Nonprofit organizations including homeowner associations that assist such communities
- State forestry agencies
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Hays County homeowner recalls Smoke Rider fire experience
Ed Vaughan estimates approximately 40 of his 100-acre property burned in the fire, which approximately is 800 acres.
Eligible applicants may apply for grant funding for a project proposal to be conducted on local government, state government, tribal, homeowner association and privately owned lands, provided the project proposal directly reduces wildfire risk to a community.
There is no minimum federal funding limit for projects and the maximum amount of funding awarded to any one community or tribe is:
- $250,000 for the creation or updating of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan
- $10 million for projects described within a Community Wildfire Protection Plan less than 10 years old
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Crews continue to fight Hermosa fire near Wimberley
The fire is about 35 percent contained.
Cost-share is required for all applications funded under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. The cost-share rates for this program are:
- Not less than 10 percent for development or revision of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan; and
- Not less than 25 percent for project implementation as described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan no more than 10 years old.
Potential applicants are recommended to attend the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Webinar for Southern states on August 9 at 9 a.m. CST. Instructions for registration can be found here.
The closing date for applications is October 7.