Virginia Department
of Forestry

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

October 7 each year

Additional Resources

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