Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2022 Tribes | USDA FS 2022 CWDG TRIBES

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) 2022 Tribes - FAQs

What is the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) 2022 Tribes opportunity?

The CWDG 2022 Tribes opportunity is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service. It is designed to help at-risk communities and Indian Tribes reduce wildfire risk through improved planning and on-the-ground mitigation work.

What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The program is intended to prevent catastrophic wildfire losses by strengthening local and Tribal capacity to understand wildfire risk, plan effectively, and complete projects that measurably reduce wildfire exposure and impacts.

Who is this specific funding competition intended for?

This competition, identified as "USDA FS 2022 CWDG TRIBES," is intended for Tribal applicants, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations.

What types of activities does the CWDG 2022 Tribes grant fund?

Funding is organized around two primary 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 the CWPP is less than ten years old).

What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in the context of this grant?

A CWPP is the foundational planning document used by communities and Tribes to assess wildfire hazards, identify values at risk (such as homes, infrastructure, and public safety concerns), and set priorities for mitigation and preparedness actions.

Can the grant fund a CWPP update or only a brand-new CWPP?

The grant can fund either the development of a new CWPP or the revision of an existing CWPP.

What qualifies as an implementation project under this opportunity?

An implementation project is work that is already described in a CWPP and focuses on reducing wildfire risk through practical mitigation and community protection measures. The opportunity description notes examples such as fuel reduction and community protection actions that have been vetted through the planning process.

Does an implementation project require an existing CWPP?

Yes. Implementation projects must be described in an existing CWPP, and that CWPP must be less than ten years old.

Why does the program emphasize the wildland urban interface (WUI)?

The program focuses on locations where wildfire poses a serious and growing threat, especially communities in the WUI where homes, critical infrastructure, and public safety are closely connected to surrounding vegetation and wildfire behavior.

How are projects prioritized under this program?

The authorizing law directs the program to prioritize at-risk communities that meet one or more of these conditions: (1) located in areas with high or very high wildfire hazard potential, (2) low-income, and/or (3) impacted by a severe disaster. Specific definitions and documentation expectations are provided in the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs).

What is the authorizing law for this program?

The program is directed by Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).

What role do the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) play?

The NOFOs are described as the primary rulebook for the program. They provide the specific definitions and explain how applicants should document eligibility and prioritization, how applications are scored for competitiveness, and what planning standards are required.

How does this grant align with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy?

The grant is explicitly aligned with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (the Cohesive Strategy) and supports work that advances its three goals: Restore and Maintain Landscapes, Create Fire Adapted Communities, and Improve Wildfire Response.

What does "Restore and Maintain Landscapes" mean for this program?

This goal emphasizes making forests, rangelands, and other fire-prone landscapes more resilient to wildfire disturbances through treatments and management approaches that reflect ecological and community objectives.

What does "Create Fire Adapted Communities" mean for this program?

This goal focuses on helping residents, buildings, and infrastructure better withstand wildfire with fewer losses. The description notes this can include steps that reduce structural ignitability and improve defensible space and evacuation readiness.

What does "Improve Wildfire Response" mean for this program?

This goal supports safer, more effective, and more coordinated decision-making across jurisdictions, recognizing that wildfire response often requires collaboration among Tribal, local, state, and federal partners.

What kind of assistance instrument is used for this opportunity?

The assistance is provided as a grant.

What is the CFDA number for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program?

The CFDA number associated with this program is 10.720.

What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?

The eligible activity area is categorized under disaster prevention and relief and natural resources.

When was this opportunity created and what was the application deadline?

The opportunity was created on July 27, 2022. The original application closing date was October 7, 2022.

How many awards were expected under this competition?

Awards were expected to be made to roughly 50 recipients.

What is the maximum award amount for this grant?

The stated award ceiling was up to $10,000,000, indicating the program may support both smaller planning efforts and large-scale implementation projects depending on the scope and readiness of the proposed work.

What kinds of communities is the program trying to help most?

The program is structured to concentrate resources where they can deliver the greatest protective benefit, especially in high-risk and underserved areas, including communities with high wildfire hazard potential, low-income vulnerability, and/or severe disaster impacts.

What is the overall approach of the CWDG program: response or prevention?

The intent is practical and preventative. The program supports planning and mitigation work to reduce risk before catastrophic wildfire losses occur, while also supporting improvements that strengthen coordination and decision-making for wildfire response.

Where can applicants find the exact definitions and documentation requirements for priority conditions?

The opportunity description states that the specific definitions and the guidance on how to document priorities are laid out in the program's Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs).