This award provides funding for the following programs: forest stewardship state fire capacity urban and community forestry and volunteer fire capacity across the state of connecticut

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Eastern Region awarded $1.63 million to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on June 9, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2029. This award supports four integrated forestry and fire capacity initiatives across Connecticut: the Forest Stewardship Program, State Fire Capacity, Urban and Community Forestry, and Volunteer Fire Capacity programs. These initiatives collectively deliver technical assistance to non-industrial private landowners and natural resource professionals for improved forest health, climate resilience, and wildlife habitat management; training opportunities and regional/national mobilization support for local fire departments; and competitive sub-grants to rural fire departments for equipment purchases and training to enhance firefighting capabilities.

The Urban and Community Forestry component specifically promotes education and outreach activities, data-driven forest management practices, and collaborative partnerships to maintain and increase tree cover in target areas while building organizational capacity. The Forest Stewardship Program emphasizes technical assistance for sustainable management of non-federal forest lands to achieve multiple objectives including enhanced timber production, soil and water protection, and ecosystem resilience. Volunteer Fire Capacity funding focuses on training, equipment acquisition, and program administration through sub-grants to eligible rural fire departments, while the State Fire Capacity initiative addresses local rural fire issues and supports the prescribed fire program statewide.

This award supports local fire departments with training opportunities, support regional and national mobilizations, improve the prescribed fire program and address local rural fire issues. Volunteer fire capacity funding will be focused on training and equipment purchases to improve local firefighting capabilities through competitive sub-grants to rural fire departments, program administration, and purchase of supplies for eligible fire departments. Urban and community forestry funding supports urban and community forestry education and outreach activities, encourages data-driven forest management, maintain and increase existing tree cover in target areas, grown capacity in non-project organizations and target areas and foster collaborative projects and partnerships. The connecticut forest stewardship program is a cooperative effort that provides technical assistance to non-industrial private landowners and natural resource professionals in the management of forest lands to improve forest health, climate resilience, enhanced timber production, wildlife habitat and soil and water protection.