Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 Tribes | USDA FS 2023 CWDG TRIBES

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 Tribes (USDA FS 2023 CWDG TRIBES)

1) What is the Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 Tribes opportunity?

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2023 Tribes (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS 2023 CWDG TRIBES) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (CFDA 10.720). It supports work that helps at-risk communities and Indian Tribes reduce wildfire risk through improved planning and on-the-ground mitigation, especially in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

2) Which federal agency runs this grant program?

The program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

3) What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.720.

4) What law authorizes and funds this grant?

This opportunity is funded and authorized under Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

5) What is the main purpose of this grant?

The purpose is to reduce wildfire risk for at-risk communities and Indian Tribes by supporting better planning and mitigation work on the ground, particularly in areas where homes, critical infrastructure, and wildlands meet (the WUI).

6) What is meant by the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in this program?

The WUI is described as the areas where homes, critical infrastructure, and wildlands meet. The grant highlights this as a key focus area for planning and mitigation because wildfire risk often concentrates there.

7) Does this grant prioritize certain communities or locations?

Yes. A major focus is directing resources to places with the greatest need. The law and the NOFO prioritize projects that benefit communities that are (1) located in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, (2) low-income, and/or (3) impacted by a severe disaster.

8) How are the priority categories (hazard potential, low-income, severe disaster) defined and assessed?

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides the detailed definitions and explains how the priorities are assessed.

9) What national strategy does this grant align with?

The grant aligns with the three core 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.

10) What does "restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes" mean in this context?

It refers to land management and fuels work that reduce vulnerability to wildfire and related stressors such as insects, disease, invasive species, and climate change impacts, and it emphasizes working across jurisdictional boundaries.

11) What does "fire-adapted communities" mean in this context?

It means improving how well residents, buildings, and local systems can prepare for, withstand, respond to, and recover from wildfire.

12) What does "improving wildfire response" mean in this context?

It emphasizes coordinated, risk-based decision-making across jurisdictions, with a focus on safer and more effective wildfire management.

13) What types of projects can be funded under this opportunity?

Funding is organized around two main project types: (1) development or revision of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), and (2) implementation projects that are described in an existing CWPP, as long as that CWPP is less than 10 years old.

14) What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)?

A CWPP is described as a foundational planning document used by communities to identify wildfire risks, set priorities, and lay out mitigation strategies.

15) Can this grant pay for implementing work, not just planning?

Yes. Applicants can seek implementation funding for projects already described in an existing CWPP, provided the CWPP is less than 10 years old.

16) Does my CWPP have to be recent to qualify for implementation funding?

Yes. Implementation funding is available for projects described in an existing CWPP if that CWPP is less than 10 years old.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is targeted to Tribal entities: federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.

18) Is this opportunity specifically for Tribal applicants?

Yes. This opportunity is labeled "2023 Tribes" and the eligibility described is specific to Tribal entities.

19) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount listed is $10,000,000.

20) How many awards does the Forest Service expect to make?

The Forest Service anticipated making about 75 awards.

21) When was this funding opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on July 31, 2023.

22) What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline was October 31, 2023.

23) Where do applicants submit their applications?

Applications are submitted through the program portal at cwdg.forestrygrants.org.

24) What document contains the official requirements and instructions?

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is the main instruction document for requirements, evaluation, and submission details.

25) Is there applicant support available, such as webinars?

Yes. The Forest Service scheduled Round 2 webinars that cover the application process. The Round 2 process is described as consistent across regions (unlike Round 1).

26) Can an eligible applicant attend any webinar session, or only their region's session?

Any eligible applicant can attend any session.

27) Is there a webinar specifically focused on Tribal applications?

Yes. The August 10 webinar is noted as more focused on Tribal applications and includes a Tribal-oriented Q and A.

28) Will webinar recordings be available?

Yes. Webinar recordings are expected to be posted afterward on the Forest Service CWDG website for those who cannot attend live.

29) Does the program support both planning-only and larger on-the-ground projects?

Yes. The opportunity supports CWPP development or revision (planning) and implementation projects tied to an eligible CWPP. The anticipated number of awards and the maximum award amount indicate the program may support a range of project sizes depending on scope and NOFO guidance.

30) What is the key message about how the Forest Service wants to target funds?

The intent stated in the law and NOFO is to direct resources toward communities with elevated wildfire threat and fewer resources, or communities that have recently been hit hard by disasters, using the priority categories described in the NOFO.