The maine forest service has agreed to administer the grant program within the state of maine, administer sub awards for grant applicants, and provide technical assistance in the form of outreach…

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry received a $444,444 Project Grant award, effective July 31, 2025, through September 30, 2029, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Community Wildfire Defense Grants program (CFDA 10.720), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Eastern Region. The Maine Forest Service will serve as the administering entity, managing the grant program within Maine and overseeing sub-awards to eligible applicants while providing technical assistance through outreach and education initiatives to potential grant recipients.

The grant funding will support the development and implementation of community wildfire protection plans and hazardous fuel reduction projects on non-federal lands throughout Maine's wildland-urban interface areas. Specifically, the funded activities align with three primary objectives: developing resilient landscapes, fostering fire-adapted communities, and supporting safe and effective wildfire response. These efforts advance both the National Cohesive Strategy and the 2020 State of Maine Forest Action Plan, contributing to forest protection, active forest management, climate change resilience, maintenance of Maine Forest Service capacity, forest health preservation, and biodiversity conservation across the state's diverse forest and community ecosystems.

The maine forest service has agreed to administer the grant program within the state of maine, administer sub awards for grant applicants, and provide technical assistance in the form of outreach and education to potential grant applicants. The application of the community wide defense grant program aligns with the national cohesive strategy and assists the maine forest service and its wildland urban interface areas by supporting three goals. Resilient landscapes. Fire adapted communities. Safe and effective wildfire response. The community wide defense grant program also aligns well with the 2020 state of maine forest action plan goals and objectives helping to achieve the protection of maine forest and forest industry. Support a diverse, robust forest products industry. Support active management of the forest land base. Address climate change and its impacts on maine forests. Maintain the capacity of the maine forest service as an institution to serve the citizens of maine. Maintain the health and resiliency of maine forests in the face of threats from biotic and abiotic agents. Predict future forest conditions and wood supplies. Conserve forest biodiversity. Maintain healthy trees and woodlands in urban and community areas. Address ongoing erosion of federal support for cooperative forestry programs.