Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 West | USDA FS 2023 CWDG CWSF

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 West

What is the Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 West?

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 West is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service. It is designed to help local communities and Indian Tribes reduce wildfire risk through planning and on-the-ground mitigation, particularly in places considered "at-risk" and in or near the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

Who is the funding agency and what are the main identifiers for this opportunity?

The funding agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FS 2023 CWDG CWSF and the CFDA number is 10.720.

What is the program trying to accomplish?

The program supports community-level wildfire risk reduction by funding planning and implementation work. It emphasizes measurable mitigation benefits and strong alignment with community-identified priorities, especially for communities considered "at-risk."

What types of communities are most strongly emphasized by this grant?

The opportunity places special emphasis on priority communities identified in the authorizing legislation, including communities that fall into one or more of these categories: located in areas with high or very high wildfire hazard potential, low-income, and/or impacted by a severe disaster. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains the specific definitions and documentation expectations for these priority factors.

What is meant by "at-risk" communities and the wildland-urban interface (WUI)?

"At-risk" communities are places where wildfire risk is a significant concern, especially communities in or near the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes and infrastructure meet or intermingle with wildland vegetation.

What are the main goals or focus areas the grant supports?

The grant is structured to support the three major goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: (1) Restore and Maintain Landscapes, (2) Create Fire Adapted Communities, and (3) Improve Wildfire Response.

What does "Restore and Maintain Landscapes" refer to in this grant?

This goal supports work that improves landscape resilience across jurisdictional boundaries. It recognizes that wildfire risk crosses property lines and is influenced by conditions such as fuels, insects, disease, invasive species, and climate change-driven stressors.

What does "Create Fire Adapted Communities" refer to in this grant?

This goal emphasizes preparedness and mitigation around people, homes, and critical infrastructure so communities are better able to withstand wildfire impacts and recover afterward.

What does "Improve Wildfire Response" refer to in this grant?

This goal promotes coordinated, risk-based decision-making among all jurisdictions so wildfire suppression and response actions are safer and more effective.

What project types can be funded under this opportunity?

Funding is available for two main project types: (1) development or revision of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), and (2) implementation projects that are already described in an existing CWPP, as long as that CWPP is less than 10 years old.

What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in the context of this grant?

A CWPP is a community-driven planning document used to identify wildfire risks, set priorities, and coordinate actions among partners. This grant can fund the development of a new CWPP or the revision of an existing CWPP.

Can applicants request funding to implement projects if they already have a CWPP?

Yes. Applicants can request implementation funding for projects that are described in an existing CWPP, provided that the CWPP is less than 10 years old.

Do implementation projects need to be connected to the CWPP?

Yes. Implementation funding is for projects already described in an existing CWPP (that is less than 10 years old). Applicants are expected to use the NOFO for detailed requirements on demonstrating alignment with CWPP content.

What law authorizes this grant program?

The opportunity is authorized under Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listing notes an award ceiling of $10,000,000.

How many awards are anticipated?

The opportunity anticipates approximately 500 awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; Tribal organizations (including those not federally recognized, as specified); and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit category).

Are Tribal entities eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Tribal governments are eligible, and Tribal organizations are also eligible (including those not federally recognized, as specified in the opportunity information and further detailed in the NOFO).

Are nonprofits eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible both with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the note that nonprofit institutions of higher education are excluded from the nonprofit category (public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed separately as eligible).

Where are applications submitted?

Applications are submitted through the dedicated portal at cwdg.forestrygrants.org, after reviewing the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and instructions.

What is the role of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?

The NOFO is the primary source for the most specific requirements, including eligible activities, required attachments, priority scoring, documentation expectations for priority community factors, and how to show the proposed work aligns with CWPP content or CWPP development standards.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it originally close?

The posting date is July 31, 2023, and the original application closing date is October 31, 2023.

Were there applicant webinars, and when were they scheduled?

Yes. Round 2 applicant webinars were scheduled for August 4, August 9, August 10, and August 15, from 2pm to 4pm Eastern. The August 10 session was specifically geared more toward Tribal applications and included a Tribal-focused Q and A.

Are webinar recordings available?

Recordings were planned to be posted on the Forest Service CWDG website shortly after the live sessions.

Is the application process different by region?

The sessions were described as having the same application process regardless of region.

Why do priority community factors matter for applicants?

Priority community factors influence how applications are evaluated and which projects are most strongly aligned with the program's intent. The NOFO provides the detailed definitions and documentation expectations needed to support these factors in an application.

What kinds of issues does the grant recognize as shaping wildfire risk?

The opportunity notes that wildfire risk is shaped by multiple stressors and conditions, including fuels, insects, disease, invasive species, and climate change-driven stressors, and that risk often crosses jurisdictional boundaries.