Texas community wildfire defense grant competitive

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service awarded a $38,856,580.00 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CFDA 10.720) to the Texas A&M Forest Service on September 3, 2024. This Project Grant aims to help at-risk Texas communities develop and implement community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) to mitigate wildfire risks through planning, risk assessments, hazardous fuel reduction, and landscape restoration.

As part of this award, the Texas A&M Forest Service is managing sub-grants to several Texas county and city governments, including Groveton Trinity County, Jefferson County, Cass County, Eastland County, and the cities of Cisco, Carbon, Eastland, and Ranger. These sub-grants, ranging from $75,000 to $10 million, support activities such as creating new CWPPs, updating existing plans, and conducting hazardous fuels mitigation programs. The overall program seeks to enhance community wildfire resilience and reduce potential loss of life and property in high-risk areas across Texas.