Authorized by statute in the cooperative forestry assistance act (PL 95-313, as amended), this consolidated payment grant (CPG) is the primary award instrument through which the USDA works with and…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 8 – Southern Region, awarded a Consolidated Payment Grant of $369.9 million to the Georgia Forestry Commission under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on September 3, 2025, with an ultimate completion date of September 2, 2029. This award integrates funding across six complementary forestry programs: the Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Health Protection Program, Urban & Community Forestry Program, State Fire Capacity Program, Volunteer Fire Capacity Program, and Landscape Scale Restoration Program. Through this consolidated mechanism, the Georgia Forestry Commission delivers direct technical and financial assistance to non-federal land managers, private forest landowners, municipalities, and producers across Georgia to support forest stewardship activities, wildfire mitigation, invasive species and pest management, timber production, and forest health restoration on state, private, and municipal forest lands.

The award is structured to generate benefits that extend beyond Georgia's borders to advance the health of federal forest lands and the nation's forests overall. Services and resources provided through this grant enable on-the-ground implementation of forest management priorities established in the State Forest Action Plan, capacity building for fire response and prevention, and collaborative partnerships among state agencies, private landowners, and local communities. By supporting forest health protection and landscape-scale restoration initiatives aligned with federal priorities, the Georgia Forestry Commission serves as a critical implementing partner in advancing sustainable forest management and reducing wildfire risk across the Southern region.

Authorized by statute in the cooperative forestry assistance act (PL 95-313, as amended), this consolidated payment grant (CPG) is the primary award instrument through which the USDA works with and through the georgia forestry commission to cooperatively set priorities for and implement management programs on state, private, and municipal forest lands that directly and indirectly benefit the health of federal forest land and the nation s forests. This award consists of the forest stewardship program, forest health protection program, urban & community forestry program, state fire capacity program, volunteer fire capacity program, and landscape scale restoration program funding. Through this award, direct assistance is provided to non-federal land managers, producers, private forest landowners, and municipalities to fight fires, reduce fire risk, fight damaging insects and diseases, produce timber, and steward their forests.