This consolidated payment grant is the primary award instrument through which the USDA works with and through the kentucky division of forestry to cooperatively set priorities for and implement…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Region 8 - Southern Region, awarded $5.26 million to the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on September 2, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 1, 2030. This consolidated payment grant consolidates six forestry program components: Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Health Protection Program, Urban & Community Forestry Program, State Fire Capacity Program, Volunteer Fire Capacity Program, and Landscape Scale Restoration Program. The award supports Kentucky's management of state, private, and municipal forest lands to enhance forest health across the Commonwealth while benefiting federal forest lands and the nation's forests.

Through this award, the Kentucky Division of Forestry delivers direct assistance to non-federal land managers, private forest landowners, producers, and municipalities to address critical forest management needs. Key services include wildfire prevention and risk reduction, suppression of damaging insects and diseases, forest health restoration, timber production support, and sustainable forest stewardship. The Cabinet implements these activities through technical assistance, capacity building, and collaborative partnerships with eligible recipients, which may include the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Rural Water Association, Kentucky Division of Conservation, and various nonprofit and regional entities. The five-year funding structure aligns with standard cooperative forestry assistance grant parameters, enabling sustained implementation of landscape-scale restoration and community resilience initiatives across Kentucky's non-federal forest resources.

This consolidated payment grant is the primary award instrument through which the USDA works with and through the kentucky division of forestry 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.