Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2023 CWDG SGSF
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) 2023 South is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service designed to help communities and Tribal nations reduce wildfire risk through better planning and on-the-ground mitigation. The overall aim is to support places that are considered at-risk, especially communities in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where homes, infrastructure, and public safety are closely tied to surrounding vegetation and fire-prone landscapes. Funding is meant to help communities take practical steps that lower the likelihood of catastrophic wildfire impacts and improve readiness before a fire starts.
A central feature of this opportunity is its focus on priority communities. The authorizing law directs attention toward communities that meet one or more of the following conditions: they are located in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, they are low-income, and/or they have experienced impacts from a severe disaster. The detailed definitions and how those priorities are assessed are provided in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which applicants are expected to review carefully before submitting an application.
The program is structured to advance the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. First, it supports efforts to restore and maintain resilient landscapes, meaning landscapes that can better withstand or recover from disturbances such as wildfire, insect and disease outbreaks, invasive species, and climate-driven impacts, while still meeting local and cross-jurisdictional management objectives. Second, it promotes the creation of fire-adapted communities, where residents, local governments, and infrastructure systems are more prepared to handle wildfire and to recover afterward. Third, it aims to improve wildfire response by encouraging coordinated, risk-based decision-making across jurisdictions so that response actions are safer, more effective, and more efficient.
CWDG funding generally falls into two main project categories. The first category is planning focused: developing a new Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or updating/revising an existing CWPP. The second category is implementation focused: carrying out projects that are already described in a CWPP, as long as that CWPP is less than ten years old. In practice, this structure is meant to move communities from planning to action, while also ensuring that implementation projects are guided by a relatively current, locally supported wildfire protection plan.
Eligible applicants are broad and include many of the entities that typically lead or coordinate community risk reduction work. Eligible applicant types include 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 governments), and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions). This wide eligibility is intended to reflect how wildfire mitigation is often led through partnerships among local governments, Tribes, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations.
From the funding details provided, this opportunity is listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.720 and is categorized under disaster prevention and relief and natural resources. The award ceiling is up to $10,000,000, and the program anticipated around 100 awards for this round. The opportunity was posted July 31, 2023, with an application closing date of October 31, 2023. Applications are submitted through the dedicated portal at cwdg.forestrygrants.org, and the NOFO serves as the primary instruction document for what must be submitted, how proposals are evaluated, and what requirements apply.
To help applicants navigate the process, the Forest Service scheduled a set of applicant webinars for Round 2. These sessions were designed to be universally useful across regions, since the Round 2 application process was standardized for all applicants (unlike Round 1, which had different regional processes). While any applicant could attend any session, the August 10 webinar was described as more focused on Tribal applications and included Tribal-specific Q and A. Webinar recordings were expected to be posted on the Forest Service CWDG website for those who could not attend live.
In short, this grant opportunity is about giving at-risk communities and Tribes the resources to plan intelligently (through CWPP development or updates) and to carry out prioritized, locally identified wildfire mitigation projects (through CWPP-based implementation). It is backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58), and it aligns federal funding with community-driven wildfire preparedness, risk reduction, and cross-jurisdictional coordination.Apply for USDA FS 2023 CWDG SGSF
- The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the disaster prevention and relief, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 South" 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 Jul 31, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 31, 2023. (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 (CWDG) 2023 South - FAQs
What is the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) 2023 South?
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) 2023 South is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. It is designed to help communities and Tribal nations reduce wildfire risk through improved planning and on-the-ground mitigation projects, especially in at-risk areas such as the wildland-urban interface (WUI).
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The main goal is to support practical actions that lower the likelihood of catastrophic wildfire impacts and improve readiness before a wildfire starts. The program is intended to help at-risk places strengthen wildfire preparedness, reduce exposure, and improve coordination across jurisdictions.
What types of communities does the program prioritize?
The program emphasizes priority communities identified in the authorizing law. Priority generally applies to communities that meet one or more of these conditions: located in areas with high or very high wildfire hazard potential, low-income communities, and/or communities that have experienced impacts from a severe disaster. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides the detailed definitions and how priority is assessed.
What is the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and why is it important here?
The wildland-urban interface (WUI) refers to areas where homes, infrastructure, and public safety are closely tied to surrounding vegetation and fire-prone landscapes. The grant focuses on these locations because wildfire risk can directly affect residents, critical services, and community infrastructure.
How does this grant align with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy?
The program is structured to advance the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: (1) restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, (2) creating fire-adapted communities, and (3) improving wildfire response through coordinated, risk-based decision-making across jurisdictions.
What does "resilient landscapes" mean in the context of this program?
Resilient landscapes are landscapes that can better withstand or recover from disturbances such as wildfire, insect and disease outbreaks, invasive species, and climate-driven impacts, while still meeting local and cross-jurisdictional management objectives.
What does "fire-adapted communities" mean in the context of this program?
Fire-adapted communities are communities where residents, local governments, and infrastructure systems are more prepared to handle wildfire and recover afterward. The program supports steps that increase readiness and reduce vulnerability before a fire occurs.
What does "improving wildfire response" mean for this grant?
Improving wildfire response refers to encouraging coordinated, risk-based decision-making across jurisdictions so that response actions are safer, more effective, and more efficient.
What types of projects can be funded under CWDG?
CWDG funding generally supports two main project categories: (1) planning projects to develop a new Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or update/revise an existing CWPP, and (2) implementation projects that carry out projects already described in a CWPP, as long as that CWPP is less than ten years old.
What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)?
A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a locally supported wildfire protection plan used to guide community wildfire risk reduction work. Under this opportunity, applicants may seek funding to create a new CWPP, update an existing one, or implement projects already identified in a current CWPP.
Can this grant fund implementation projects without a CWPP?
Implementation projects are intended to fund projects already described in a CWPP, and the CWPP must be less than ten years old. For communities without a qualifying CWPP, the planning category (developing a new CWPP or updating an existing one) is the relevant option described for this opportunity.
How recent does a CWPP need to be for implementation funding?
To be eligible for implementation funding under this opportunity, the implementation projects must be described in a CWPP that is less than ten years old.
Who is eligible to apply for CWDG 2023 South?
Eligible applicants include 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 governments), and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education institutions).
Are Tribal nations and Tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Tribal governments are eligible, and Tribal organizations are also eligible, including those not federally recognized as governments.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, excluding higher education institutions.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.720.
What funding amount is available per award?
The award ceiling for this opportunity is up to $10,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated for this round?
The program anticipated around 100 awards for this round.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 31, 2023, and the application closing date was October 31, 2023.
Where are applications submitted?
Applications are submitted through the dedicated portal at cwdg.forestrygrants.org.
What document should applicants rely on for official instructions and requirements?
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the primary instruction document. It explains what must be submitted, how proposals are evaluated, and what requirements apply, including how priority communities are defined and assessed.
Were there applicant webinars for this round?
Yes. The Forest Service scheduled applicant webinars for Round 2. These sessions were designed to be useful across regions because the Round 2 application process was standardized for all applicants.
Was any webinar specifically focused on Tribal applications?
Yes. The August 10 webinar was described as more focused on Tribal applications and included Tribal-specific Q and A, though any applicant could attend any session.
Were webinar recordings available?
Webinar recordings were expected to be posted on the Forest Service CWDG website for those who could not attend live.
What law funds or authorizes this grant program?
This grant opportunity is backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58).
What general subject areas does this opportunity fall under?
This opportunity is categorized under disaster prevention and relief and natural resources.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Forest Service Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy RFA 2024 Apply for USDA FS 2024 COHESIVE STRATEGY Funding Number: USDA FS 2024 COHESIVE STRATEGY Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Regional Fiscal Year 2024 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program Apply for DHS 24 MT 045 01 99 Funding Number: DHS 24 MT 045 01 99 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HQ Fiscal Year 2024 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program Apply for DHS 24 MT 045 00 99 Funding Number: DHS 24 MT 045 00 99 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY25 State Fire Capacity Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Apply for USDA FS FY25 R8 WILDFIRE MITIGATION Funding Number: USDA FS FY25 R8 WILDFIRE MITIGATION Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| 2025 Forest Service Eastern Region Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy NOFO Apply for USDA FS 2025 COHESIVE STRATEGY Funding Number: USDA FS 2025 COHESIVE STRATEGY Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) South Apply for USDA FS 2024 CWDG SGSF Funding Number: USDA FS 2024 CWDG SGSF Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) Tribes Apply for USDA FS 2024 CWDG TRIBES Funding Number: USDA FS 2024 CWDG TRIBES Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) West Apply for USDA FS 2024 CWDG CWSF Funding Number: USDA FS 2024 CWDG CWSF Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) Northeast-Midwest Apply for USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW Funding Number: USDA FS 2024 CWDG NEMW Agency: Forest Service Category: Disaster Prevention and Relief, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
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