Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) Northeast-Midwest opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW) is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA Forest Service (CFDA 10.720) focused on helping at-risk communities and Indian Tribes reduce the growing threat of wildfire. The grant is designed to support practical, on-the-ground planning and mitigation work, especially for places in or near the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes, infrastructure, and critical community resources sit close to flammable vegetation and wildfire-prone landscapes. This round is part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program, which was authorized under Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The core purpose of CWDG is to help communities identify wildfire risks, plan defensible strategies, and carry out mitigation actions that measurably reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfire impacts. The program specifically prioritizes communities that meet one or more of three conditions: they are located in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, they are low-income, and/or they have been impacted by a severe disaster. The notice emphasizes that applicants should consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the detailed definitions, eligibility nuances, and documentation expectations tied to these priority categories, since those priorities can influence how projects are scored or selected.
CWDG is built to advance the three major goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (the Cohesive Strategy). First, it supports efforts to restore and maintain landscapes so that forests and other fire-adapted ecosystems are more resilient across boundaries, including resilience to fire as well as insects, disease, invasive species, and climate-driven stressors, consistent with local and regional management objectives. Second, it invests in creating fire-adapted communities, meaning people, homes, and public infrastructure are better prepared to receive, respond to, and recover from wildfire events. Third, it aims to improve wildfire response by encouraging coordinated, risk-based decision-making across jurisdictions, with an emphasis on safe and effective wildfire management.
Funding is available for two primary project types. One category supports the development or revision of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), which are commonly used local planning tools that identify wildfire hazards, prioritize treatment areas, and align community preparedness actions with the capabilities of fire agencies and land managers. The second category supports implementation projects that are clearly described in an existing CWPP, as long as that CWPP is less than ten years old. In practice, this means applicants can seek support either to build or update the plan itself, or to carry out the specific mitigation actions the plan already calls for, such as fuels reduction or other community risk-reduction work, depending on what the CWPP outlines and what the NOFO allows.
A wide range of applicants are eligible, reflecting the program's community-level focus and the need for cross-sector partnerships. Eligible applicants include state governments, counties, cities or townships, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education). This broad eligibility is meant to ensure that local governments, Tribal entities, and community-based organizations that often lead preparedness and mitigation efforts can compete for funds.
Key funding details provided in the opportunity listing include an award ceiling of up to $10,000,000 per award, with an estimated 100 awards expected. The original closing date for applications is February 28, 2025. Applicants are directed to read the NOFO/instructions and then apply through the dedicated portal at cwdg.forestrygrants.org, which is the primary application entry point for this program.
To help applicants understand requirements and submit stronger proposals, the Forest Service scheduled applicant webinars for CWDG Round 3. The sessions are listed as December 2 (2pm to 4pm Eastern), December 4 (12:30pm to 2:30pm Eastern, with a Tribal-focused format and Tribal application Q and A), and December 6 (2pm to 4pm Eastern). The agency notes that the application process is the same across regions and applicant types, so any eligible applicant can attend any session, but the December 4 event is tailored to Tribal applicants. Webinar recordings are expected to be posted after the live events for those who cannot attend. In addition to webinars, the Forest Service plans to offer periodic applicant "office hours" during the application window, with dates and times to be posted on the Forest Service CWDG website.Apply for USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW
- The Forest Service in the disaster prevention and relief, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) Northeast-Midwest" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.720.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) Northeast-Midwest (USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW) FAQs
1) What is this grant opportunity?
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) Northeast-Midwest opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW) is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA Forest Service (CFDA 10.720). It is intended to help at-risk communities and Indian Tribes reduce wildfire risk through practical planning and mitigation work, especially in and near the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
2) What is the main purpose of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program?
The purpose of CWDG is to help communities identify wildfire risks, plan defensible strategies, and carry out mitigation actions that measurably reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfire impacts.
3) What law authorized this program?
CWDG was authorized under Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
4) What kinds of areas and situations does this funding focus on?
The opportunity emphasizes support for places in or near the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes, infrastructure, and critical community resources are close to flammable vegetation and wildfire-prone landscapes.
5) What priorities does the program emphasize for applicants?
The program prioritizes communities that meet one or more of the following conditions:
- Located in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential
- Low-income
- Impacted by a severe disaster
The notice indicates that applicants should consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for detailed definitions, eligibility nuances, and documentation expectations tied to these priority categories, since they may influence how projects are scored or selected.
6) How does this program relate to the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy?
CWDG is built to advance the three major goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (the Cohesive Strategy):
- Resilient landscapes: Supporting restoration and maintenance of landscapes so forests and other fire-adapted ecosystems are more resilient across boundaries, including resilience to fire, insects, disease, invasive species, and climate-driven stressors, consistent with local and regional objectives.
- Fire-adapted communities: Investing in community readiness so people, homes, and public infrastructure are better prepared to receive, respond to, and recover from wildfire events.
- Safe and effective wildfire response: Improving wildfire response by encouraging coordinated, risk-based decision-making across jurisdictions with an emphasis on safe and effective wildfire management.
7) What types of projects can be funded?
Funding is available for two primary project types:
- CWPP development or revision: Projects to develop or update a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
- CWPP implementation: Projects to implement actions that are clearly described in an existing CWPP, as long as the CWPP is less than ten years old.
8) What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in this context?
A CWPP is described as a commonly used local planning tool that identifies wildfire hazards, prioritizes treatment areas, and aligns community preparedness actions with the capabilities of fire agencies and land managers.
9) Can this grant fund implementation work like fuels reduction?
The listing indicates that implementation projects may be funded if they are clearly described in an existing CWPP (and that CWPP is less than ten years old). Examples mentioned include fuels reduction and other community risk-reduction work, depending on what the CWPP outlines and what the NOFO allows.
10) Does an implementation project require an existing CWPP?
Yes. The description specifies that implementation projects must be clearly described in an existing CWPP, and the CWPP must be less than ten years old.
11) Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity lists a broad set of eligible applicants, including:
- State governments
- Counties
- Cities or townships
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
12) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are listed as eligible, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
13) Are Tribal applicants eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
14) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is up to $10,000,000 per award.
15) How many awards are expected?
The opportunity listing estimates approximately 100 awards.
16) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is February 28, 2025.
17) Where do applicants apply?
Applicants are directed to read the NOFO/instructions and then apply through the dedicated portal at cwdg.forestrygrants.org.
18) Is there an official document applicants should rely on for details?
Yes. The listing emphasizes that applicants should consult the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for detailed definitions, eligibility nuances, and documentation expectations, including the priority categories that may affect scoring or selection.
19) Are there applicant webinars for this funding round?
Yes. The USDA Forest Service scheduled applicant webinars for CWDG Round 3 on the following dates and times (Eastern):
- December 2, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
- December 4, 12:30pm to 2:30pm (Tribal-focused format with Tribal application Q and A)
- December 6, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
20) Are the webinars restricted to certain applicants or regions?
The notice states that the application process is the same across regions and applicant types, so any eligible applicant can attend any session. It also notes that the December 4 session is tailored to Tribal applicants.
21) Will webinar recordings be available?
Yes. Webinar recordings are expected to be posted after the live events for those who cannot attend.
22) Will there be additional support opportunities like office hours?
Yes. The Forest Service plans to offer periodic applicant "office hours" during the application window. Dates and times are expected to be posted on the Forest Service CWDG website.
23) What is CFDA 10.720?
The opportunity listing identifies this program under CFDA 10.720, which is the catalog identifier associated with the USDA Forest Service grant program referenced in the posting.
24) What does WUI mean and why does it matter here?
WUI refers to the wildland-urban interface. The listing highlights WUI areas because that is where homes, infrastructure, and critical community resources are close to flammable vegetation and wildfire-prone landscapes, creating higher potential for damaging wildfire impacts and making planning and mitigation especially important.
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