Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation

The Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation grant program is administered by the Colorado State Forest Service, a state-level agency within Colorado State University that supports forest health, wildfire preparedness, and natural resource stewardship across Colorado. Established by the Colorado Legislature in 2017, the program is designed to provide competitive grant funding to support community-level actions that reduce wildfire risk, promote forest restoration, and encourage the use of woody biomass for traditional forest products and energy. The program aligns with broader statewide resilience goals and prioritizes projects that address risks in the wildland urban interface, where human development and forested landscapes intersect. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce the risk of wildfire to people, property, infrastructure, and natural resources while simultaneously improving forest ecosystem health. Funding supports two main project types: Fuels and Forest Health Projects and Capacity Building Projects. Fuels and Forest Health Projects focus on direct, on-the-ground treatments such as mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, defensible space creation, and reforestation. Capacity Building Projects aim to strengthen organizational and community capacity to plan and implement future mitigation efforts through staffing, equipment acquisition, outreach, and planning initiatives. All projects must demonstrate alignment with wildfire risk reduction strategies and must contribute to broader landscape-scale resilience. Funding is provided as a reimbursement-based cost-share grant, meaning recipients must incur project costs upfront and then request reimbursement after completing eligible activities and submitting required documentation. Applicants must meet a minimum 1:1 match requirement, meaning at least 50 percent of total project costs must be covered by non-grant sources. A reduced match of 25 percent may be available for projects located in economically disadvantaged areas, allowing up to 75 percent of project costs to be covered by the grant. Eligible match contributions include cash, in-kind services, volunteer labor, and other documented support. Total available funding for the 2026-2027 cycle is approximately 7040000, with up to 2000000 allocated specifically for capacity building projects. Eligibility is broad but focused on entities that can deliver community-level impact. Eligible applicants include local governments, special districts, utilities, nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, state agencies, and community groups such as homeowner associations. Individual landowners may apply only if they collaborate with eligible entities and demonstrate benefits beyond their own property. All applicants must serve as or designate a fiscal agent with legal authority to manage funds and implement treatments. Projects must involve multiple properties, occur within Colorado, and primarily address wildfire risk in the wildland urban interface. Additional requirements include compliance with environmental laws, use of forestry best management practices, and coordination with county officials. The application process requires submission through an online grant management platform. Applicants must prepare detailed proposals that include project descriptions, ecological assessments, treatment plans, budget narratives, and supporting documentation such as maps and letters of support. Required components include a project area map generated through the Colorado Forest Atlas, confirmation of participating landowners, and consultation with the Colorado Wood Utilization and Marketing program to develop utilization plans. Applications must also demonstrate coordination with county-level wildfire planning efforts and include a signed letter of support from appropriate county officials. Applications for the 2026-2027 cycle open on August 3, 2026, and close on October 8, 2026 at 5 p.m. Pre-award notifications are expected by February 10, 2027, with final award notifications issued by March 31, 2027. Funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2031, and must begin initial implementation activities within the first year of the award. Applications are evaluated by a Technical Advisory Panel based on criteria such as project strategy, alignment with statewide priorities, partnerships, and potential impact. Final funding decisions are made by the State Forester. The program is recurring annually and reflects Colorado’s long-term commitment to wildfire mitigation and forest resilience. Applicants are encouraged to engage early with local field offices for technical assistance and to attend informational webinars offered during the application period. Successful projects not only reduce immediate wildfire risk but also contribute to sustained community preparedness, improved forest conditions, and enhanced utilization of forest resources across the state.

Emphasize strategic landscape scale projects demonstrate strong partnerships align with wildfire risk reduction plans clearly justify budget and match contributions and show long term sustainability of outcomes