2025-CohesiveStrategyGrantWebinar-12.03.2024.pptx

USFS Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy 2025 Request for Applications U.S. Forest Service Eastern Region State, Private & Tribal Forestry Fire & Aviation Management, Cooperative Fire Program Note: We are recording this session!

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USFS Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy 2025 Request for Applications U.S. Forest Service Eastern Region State, Private, & Tribal Forestry Fire & Aviation Management, Cooperative Fire Program

Overview National Cohesive Strategy Northeast Regional Action Plan Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Cross‐Boundary Wildfire Hazard Mitigation on Non‐Federal Lands* Wildfire Risk and Underserved Communities Grants.gov

National Cohesive Strategy Restore & Maintain Landscapes Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire related disturbances in accordance with management objectives.

Fire Adapted Communities Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life or property.

Northeast Regional Action Plan Implementation Actions Use of Prescribed Fire for Multiple Benefits Restore Fire Adapted Ecosystems Mitigate “Event” Created Hazardous Fuels Support Local Fire Adapted Communities Treat Hazardous Fuels in the WUI Promote Prevention Programs

Developed by the Northeast Regional Strategy Committee and stakeholders to identify the most important actions to progress on.

Northeast Regional Action Plan – 2015 Northeast Regional Action Plan - 2020 Update

Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant

Target: Goals 1 and 2 of the Cohesive Strategy Restore and Maintain Landscapes Fire Adapted Communities Meet one or more Regional options 1-6 Use of Prescribed Fire for Multiple Benefits Restore Fire Dependent Ecosystems Mitigate “Event” Created Fuels Support Local Fire Adaptation by Communities Treat Hazardous Fuels in the WUI Promote Prevention Programs

Eastern Area States

NOFO for eligible applicants with proposed projects in the 20 states within the FS Eastern Region.

Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Eligibility State Forestry Agencies Forest Fire Compacts Groups of States Tribes Nonprofit Organizations Academic Institutions Fire Science Exchanges “For Profit” organizations are not eligible for this funding opportunity

Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Criteria At least 100% match of requested Federal funds is required.

Provide 2025 WRR Planned Spending & Accomplishments Excel spreadsheet.

Applications should contain maps to describe project location and activities.

Submit a separate letter of support from the State Forester or appropriate designated authority for approving activities (NJ, State Fire Warden; NY, Director of Forest Protection).

Third Party–non-profits, academic institutions, fire science exchanges Not Required–Tribes and State Agencies

The Landscape Resiliency Accomplishments Reporting Module (Landscape ARM) aligns with the NCS goal of creating and maintaining wildfire Resilient Landscapes. The ARM assists state, tribal and other partners in reporting where and how they are investing their federal grant funds to meet the objectives of wildfire mitigation and hazardous fuels reduction. Grant Programs Supported: USFS State Fire Capacity, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law State Fire Assistance, Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration, & NEMW Wildfire Risk Reduction Grants.

Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Funding Limits & Match Requirements

The FY 2025 allocation for this grant opportunity is subject to funding availability Individual grant application funding limit of $25,000 to $300,000 in Federal funds Equipment: No more than 25% of Federal funds requested WRR grant funds must be matched 100 percent or more by eligible and allowable costs and are subject to match provisions 15% WRR cap on total award amounts to states. See guidance for details. Estimated cap is $420,000 per state depending on funding.

Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Example Activities

Use of Prescribed Fire Use of Mechanical Fuel Reduction Vegetation Management Use of small diameter wood Defensible Space CWPPs or equivalent Fuel Breaks & Fire Breaks Dry Hydrants that support a Fire Adapted Community Fire Mgmt. Planning in fire adapted landscapes w/ FAC’s Slash Removal Brochures, PSA’s Property Assessments Prescribed Fire or fire adapted communities related training Exercises that support FAC’s I&E, Firewise, RSG, FAC & Fire Prevention Programs Wx station upgrades that support prescribed fire or community readiness

Non-Qualifying Examples:

Research and development projects Capital improvements Economic development projects Fire Suppression or Support training not related to RX fire needs/qualifications

2025 WRR Planned Spending & Accomplishments Excel spreadsheet Replaces the old National Fire Plan Operations and Reporting System (NFPORS) form.

The Landscape Resiliency Accomplishments Reporting Module (Landscape ARM) supports State Fire Capacity (SFC), BIL State Fire Assistance (SFA), and WRR Grant applications.

For questions about Planned Spending & Accomplishments, please contact your Coop Fire staff.

Please report accurately, the acres treated are part of the region’s accomplishment target.

The Landscape Resiliency Accomplishments Reporting Module (Landscape ARM) aligns with the NCS goal of creating and maintaining wildfire Resilient Landscapes. The ARM assists state, tribal and other partners in reporting where and how they are investing their federal grant funds to meet the objectives of wildfire mitigation and hazardous fuels reduction. Grant Programs Supported: USFS State Fire Capacity, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law State Fire Assistance, Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration, & NEMW Wildfire Risk Reduction Grants.

Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Review At least 100% match of requested Federal funds is required.

Provide 2025 WRR Planned Spending & Accomplishments Excel spreadsheet.

Applications should contain maps to describe project location and activities.

Submit a separate letter of support from the State Forester or appropriate designated authority for approving activities (NJ, State Fire Warden; NY, Director of Forest Protection).

Third Party–non-profits, academic institutions, fire science exchanges Not Required–Tribes and State Agencies

Application Ranking Criteria 100 Points Possible:

Address Northeast Regional Action Plan's Options (30 pts) Engage in partnerships and collaboration (20 pts) Assist Underserved Communities (10 pts) Explain project effectiveness and efficiency (20 pts) Demonstrate a Wildfire Risk Focus (20 pts)

Wildfire Risk and Underserved Communities

Wildfirerisk.org

Northeast Midwest Risk Assessment.com

Sources to Support Your Application & Ranking Criteria

Riverside, NY – Curious About Your Risk?

Risk Explorer > Basic Viewer > Risk > Extreme!

Sources to Support Your Application and Ranking Criteria

- Wildfire Risk

- Vulnerable Populations

- Wildfirerisk.org

Four outputs: Risk to Homes – Wildfire Potential – Exposure – Vulnerable Populations

Sources to Support Your Application & Ranking Criteria

- Wildfire Hazard Potential

- Underserved Community: Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)

- Can use local or state wildfire risk data instead also

- Wildfirerisk.org

Once Again for FY 2025 – Grants.gov Submit all applications through grants.gov Search for grant opportunity:

USDA-FS-2025-COHESIVE-STRATEGY

Application deadline is January 15, 2025 Grants.gov provides 24/7 support:

1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov

Preparing to Apply FY 2025 guidance document has details on how to register and apply online through Grants.gov.

Before working in Grants.gov you will need:

Employer Identification Number (~5 weeks) System for Award Management (SAM) registration (~2 weeks) Generates the Unique Entity Identifier (formally DUNS#) Grants.gov account with Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role (same day) One lead agency/grant applicant will apply in Grants.gov for all other contributors to the project.

Only Grants.gov users with the AOR role for the applying entity are eligible to submit applications to Grants.gov.

How to Apply: Search Grants Search for Opportunity:

USDA-FS-2025-COHESIVE-STRATEGY

Enter the opportunity ID at the top, as a keyword or opportunity number.

FOR APPLICANTS:

Check Your Availability Get Registered Apply for Grants Track Your Application Adobe Community Applicant Training Applicant FAQ’s Manage Subscriptions

SUPPORT CENTER:

Welcome to Grants.gov Support Applicant Support is available 24/7 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov FAQ’s Report Fraud Find Help and Learn About the Program Grants.gov Releases Feedback

Reminders Submit application and documents through grants.gov.

Link Project Proposal to NCS Goals/Regional Options and State Forest Action Plans.

At least 100% match of requested Federal funds is required.

Provide 2025 WRR Planned Spending & Accomplishments Excel spreadsheet.

Applications should contain maps to describe project location and activities.

Submit a separate letter of support from the State Forester or appropriate designated authority for approving activities (NJ, State Fire Warden; NY, Director of Forest Protection).

Proposals due by January 15, 2025 – Include ALL required items.

Contacts For the Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy Competitive grant program:

Ray Parrish, Program Manager raymond.j.parrish@usda.gov

(414) 323-2589 For WRR in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia or Connecticut:

Maris Gabliks, Cooperative Fire Specialist maris.g.gabliks@usda.gov

(609) 235-7524 For WRR in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan:

Caleb Schreiber, Cooperative Fire Specialist caleb.schreiber@usda.gov

(715) 628-6999 For WRR in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, or Vermont:

Helene Hochholzer, Cooperative Fire Specialist helene.hochholzer@usda.gov

(860) 861-7322

Key Sources to Support Your Application Eastern Region Grant Opportunity: Cohesive Fire Strategy National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy State Forest Action Plans Northeast Regional Action Plan – 2015 Northeast Regional Action Plan - 2020 Update Northeast-Midwest Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (NMWRAP) Wildfire Risk to Communities Community Wildfire Defense Grants

Region 9 - Grants & Agreements

> Recorded Webinar > 2025 Grant Information

- Guidance and Instructions

- Optional Narrative Template > Contact Information

Thank you for your participation!

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