Kentucky Firewise USA Community Grant Program – Due May 15

The Kentucky Division of Forestry offers USDA Forest Service grants of up to $10,000 to Kentucky government agencies and nonprofit organizations for projects that protect forestlands in local communities. Funding is intended for activities that benefit areas where urban and wildland areas meet. Priority will be given based on community-at-risk level, the establishment of a local Firewise council of board, and the type of project submitted. Grants are awarded for projects to reduce the wildfire risk and/or hazard in Kentucky's wildland/urban interface communities.

The Kentucky Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources and Strategy, June 2010, (Forest Action Plan) listed three important issues, in which wildfires are incorporated:

Eligible Projects:

• Development or update of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. 
• Development of local Firewise USA™ Councils or Boards. 
• Completion of community wildfire hazard assessments. 
• GIS mapping of at-risk communities. 
• Consulting services to complete a community wildfire hazard assessment(s) or a 
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). 
• Firewise USA™ or fire mitigation activities that follow the intent of the National Fire Plan.
  
• Firewise or fire mitigation educational activities or materials that can be used to educate
• the community.
• Signage to identify roads and residences. 
• Mechanical removal or reduction of hazardous fuels. 
• Fuel treatments that increase a community’s defensible space, which could include the leasing or contracting of equipment and other resources to complete       an eligible project. 
• Development or improvement of existing fire breaks that provide community mitigation.

Grantees must certify that they are not debarred from a federal grant program, and they may not conduct business with individuals debarred from federal grant programs. Grantees must comply with all federal regulations about federal grants.

The Kentucky Division of Forestry will notify grantees of funding approval by Aug. 1, 2024.

New this year, all fire departments are required to obtain a vendor code number from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of the Controller for the fire department. Information and the application needed to obtain this number can be found in supporting documents.

All project applicants must provide a match of 20% of total project costs with nonfederal cash or in-kind contributions. Payment is on a reimbursement basis.

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