Community Firewise & Urban Interface Grant Program

What does the grant support?
The goal of the NC Community Firewise and Urban Interface Forestry Grant is to develop, educate, enhance, implement, and support the Firewise and healthy forest management concepts in Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) communities throughout North Carolina by encouraging citizen and community involvement.

The program objectives are to:

• Improve information and education of the benefits of protecting homes, structures, and lives in communities to lessen or reduce the fire hazards and threats.
• Encourage citizens and communities to promote the long term sustainability and health of community forests.
• Provide educational programs and technical assistance to communities, individuals and organizations.
• Assist local governments with identified projects that will lead to improved forest health and reduced threat and risk from wildfires.
• Promote volunteerism, multi-cultural awareness, and involvement of non-profit organizations in implementing forest management and fuel management programs.
• Assist communities in meeting the requirements for Firewise Communities USA certification.
• Assist communities with proper forest health management strategies through development of management plans.

Who is eligible to apply for a grant?

Community Firewise Project Grants — Applicants may include fire department districts, organized townships, rural communities, neighborhoods, tribal districts, sub-divisions, and private non-profit organizations. Local governments and municipalities are not eligible for Community Firewise Project Grants unless they are related to hazardous fuel mitigation projects in high hazard areas for wildfires. All projects MUST be located on publicly owned land, or land controlled by the community or organization applying for the grant.

Urban Interface Project Grants — Applicants may include fire department districts, organized townships, rural communities, neighborhoods, tribal districts, sub-divisions, local governments and private non-profit organizations. All projects MUST be located on publicly owned land, or land controlled by the community applying for the grant.

How is the grant administered?

• Grants are awarded on an annual basis through the USDA Forest Service and are administered by the NC Forest Service Firewise and U&CF Programs.
• The grant provides 80% of the project costs, and requires matching funds or in-kind efforts, to encourage citizen involvement.

What can the grant funds can be used for?

When can I apply?
The grant cycle is open and applications can be submitted at any time during the year. However, you are advised to discuss your proposal prior to making an application with the appropriate grant administrator.

How much can I apply for?

• Grant requests can range from $1,000 to $25,000.
• Grantees must provide a minimum local match equal to 20% of the total cost of the project.
• Funding is for programs, projects or activities not currently being funded and cannot be used to substitute for existing funds. Funds may be used within existing programs to initiate new program development or program expansion.
• Funding is not available for entertainment, food and beverages, computers, tree maintenance, or construction and landscape supplies/equipment.

How are the grant funds distributed and how is the other 20% of the grant costs met?

• Grant costs, as itemized in the project budget, are paid on a reimbursement basis only.
• The FUI Grant Program funds must be matched 80:20 with non-federal funds.
• Documentation of all matching support must be maintained and submitted with reimbursement.
• Match can be in the form of cash purchase or in-kind contributions, all from non-federal sources.
• Match cannot be met by cash purchase or in-kind contribution for entertainment, food and beverages, computers, tree maintenance, or construction and landscape supplies/equipment.
• Matching funds cannot be used as a match for any other federal cost-share project and must be specifically related to the proposed project.

Before making an application, remember:
Any applicants may apply for grants in multiple years, although when funding is limited, and project merits are solid, a first-time applicant may be selected before a repeat applicant. Repeat applicants should submit projects that are wholly new or that build upon previous grants projects and demonstrate a commitment to WUI management. Grant funding is not meant to replace funding for current programs.

Prior to making an application:

• Consider your project in terms of how it fits with the stated grant goals.
• Ask whether it addresses any of the identified objectives.

Other questions to consider before making an application include:

• What are the long term effects, and is there a commitment within the community/organization to maintain the project goals?
• Is it the right time for the project? Will it be used to its full potential now or in the very near future?
• Can the project be completed within the one year grant period? Should it be divided into two components, the second of which can be applied for the following year? (NOTE: Due to funding limitations, multi-year projects cannot be guaranteed future funding.)

And, finally, if you have questions about any of these points and how your project idea fits, you can contact:

Nancy Stairs
U&CF Program Coordinator

Gary Wood
Firewise Coodinator