USDA Forest Service invests more than $51M in the Rocky Mountain Region to reduce wildfire risk
Investment to impact multiple communities in Rocky Mountain Region
Contact Information: Rocky Mountain Region Press Office SM.FS.R2Press@USDA.gov
LAKEWOOD, Colorado, September 24, 2025 - Communities that have limited resources and face high risk from wildfire are getting additional support from the USDA Forest Service. In an announcement made today, Colorado will receive $26.3 million in Community Wildfire Defense grant awards, funding eight projects, Nebraska will receive $24.8 million funding three projects, and Wyoming will receive $138,500 funding one project.
These grants are part of more than $200 million being invested in 58 projects across 22 states and two tribes.
“These grants are about putting resources in the hands of those that know their lands and communities best, so that they can better protect their families, businesses, infrastructure and the future of our shared landscape,” said Secretary Rollins. “Keeping forests healthy, resilient and productive doesn’t come from the top down, it comes from us standing alongside the people and communities we serve, and supporting practical, science-based management that ensures the future of the forests as well as rural prosperity.”
In total, the program is investing $1 billion over five years to assist at-risk communities, including tribal communities, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native Corporations with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks on lands not managed by federal agencies.
“No single organization can tackle the severe fire conditions we face today. It is imperative that we work together to protect our forest and communities,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “For those communities that already have plans in place, these investments will enable immediate action to reduce wildfire risk.”
Funded proposals in Colorado are:
| Name | Project Title | Award Amount |
| Coalition for the Upper South Platte | Coalition for the Upper South Platte Park County CWPP Update | $249,290 |
| Grand County Wildfire Council | Grand County West Granby Fuels Corridor | $2,448,000 |
| Jefferson County Sheriff's Office | Jefferson County Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation, Education and Capacity Building | $9,668,390 |
| Larimer County Office of Emergency Management | Protecting the Gateway to the Rockies | $9,856,000 |
| Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative | Glenwood Springs Wildfire Mitigation and Home Resilience Project | $865,009 |
| The Ember Alliance | Livermore Fire Protection District CWPP Development | $118,814 |
| White River Conservation District | Resident Mitigation & Resilience Project in Eastern Rio Blanco County | $531,308 |
| Wildfire Adapted Partnership | CWPP implementation in Montezuma County, CO | $2,573,318 |
Funded proposals in Nebraska are:
| Name | Project Title | Award Amount |
| Nebraska Forest Service | Brown County Mitigation Crew | $5,191,260 |
| Nebraska Forest Service | Stop the Burn: Creating Resilient Working Lands for Brown County | $9,806,233 |
| Nebraska Forest Service | Stop the Burn: Creating Resilient Working Lands for Rock County | $9,806,233 |
The funded proposal in Wyoming is:
Name | Project Title | Award Amount |
| Wyoming State Forestry Division | Park County CWPP Update | $138,500 |
The Forest Service will announce a fourth funding opportunity later this year.
More information about the funded proposals, as well as announcements about the grant program, is available on the Community Wildfire Defense Grants website.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.