CAL FIRE Wood Products and Bioenergy – Local Conservation Corps

The CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development Grant is administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as part of its Wood Products and Bioenergy Program. This program operates under the broader California Climate Investments initiative, which allocates cap-and-invest funds toward projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen local economies, and improve environmental resilience. The grant is designed to support California’s forest-sector businesses and workforce by encouraging innovation, expanding operational capacity, and improving the sustainability of forest management practices. The program aligns with multiple statewide climate and forest resilience strategies, including the California Forest Carbon Plan and Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. The primary purpose of the grant is to expand the pace and scale of forest management by supporting business development and workforce development projects. Business development projects focus on infrastructure, processing, and operational capacity such as wood product manufacturing, biomass utilization, and nursery expansion. Workforce development projects emphasize training programs that build a skilled labor force in forestry, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. Projects are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to greenhouse gas emission reductions, improve forest health, and enhance economic opportunities in forest-dependent communities. Funding supports a wide range of eligible activities including wood processing, biomass energy production, workforce training programs, forest operations expansion, and development of forest-sector infrastructure. Allowable costs include salaries, contractual services, equipment, supplies, and travel directly tied to the project. However, costs must be incurred during the project performance period and comply with strict accounting and documentation requirements. Projects involving environmental impact must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or other applicable environmental regulations prior to implementation. The program operates primarily on a reimbursement basis, with limited exceptions for advance payments under specific conditions. Eligibility for the grant is broad and includes academic institutions, local, state, and federal agencies, Native American tribes, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses operating within California. Applicants must demonstrate alignment with forest-sector activities such as wood processing, biomass utilization, forestry services, or workforce training programs. Existing and prior grantees may reapply but are subject to additional performance-based evaluation criteria. Projects must also demonstrate readiness, including environmental compliance planning, community support, and the ability to complete all activities within the required timeline. Applications must be submitted through the EUNA Grants Portal and include a comprehensive set of required materials such as a scope of work, budget, business plan (for business projects), environmental compliance documentation, and letters of support or participation. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including project impact, readiness, budget justification, applicant qualifications, and alignment with program goals. Additional scoring consideration is given to projects that benefit disadvantaged or low-income communities, create jobs, and contribute to greenhouse gas reduction goals. The application timeline for the 2026 first-quarter solicitation requires proposals to be submitted by May 20, 2026, with review occurring between June and July and award offers expected in September 2026. Projects must be completed by September 30, 2030, within the defined performance period. The program operates on a recurring quarterly solicitation basis, allowing applicants multiple opportunities to apply throughout the fiscal year.

Strong applications demonstrate project readiness secured match funding clear greenhouse gas reduction benefits and strong community support; prioritize projects benefiting disadvantaged communities