Wildfire Mitigation Outreach Grant Program

The Wildfire Mitigation Outreach Grant Program is administered by the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), an agency within Colorado State University that plays a central role in forest stewardship and wildfire mitigation across the state. Created in 2022 by the Colorado General Assembly, the Wildfire Mitigation Outreach Grant Program is designed to support local outreach efforts among residents in areas of Colorado classified as high wildfire hazard zones. Its overarching goal is to help communities prepare for and reduce risks associated with wildfires by providing educational and engagement tools that foster proactive mitigation. The primary purpose of the program is to fund outreach and educational projects that promote wildfire mitigation behavior among residents. Specifically, the funding must be used to support outreach activities that educate homeowners in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and other fire-prone zones about defensible space, mitigation strategies, and risk awareness. Projects must align with guidance provided in the CSFS Home Ignition Zone guide and are encouraged to utilize the State’s "Live Wildfire Ready" (LWR) campaign resources. These include customizable toolkits with banners, flyers, social media graphics, and other outreach materials tailored to local needs. Eligible applicants include agencies of local government (such as counties, cities, and municipalities), special districts, nonprofit organizations, and Tribal agencies or programs. All applicants must either function as their own fiscal agent or have a designated one, and nonprofit organizations must be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. To identify areas of high wildfire hazard risk, applicants must consult the Wildfire Risk Reduction Planner within the Colorado Forest Atlas. Access to this tool requires a free account, typically approved within 24 hours. Allowable uses of grant funds include a variety of outreach components such as community engagement events, printed or digital educational materials, instructional videos, and mobile applications. All created materials should reflect consistent messaging with Colorado’s statewide wildfire readiness campaigns and appropriately acknowledge state support. For example, videos may feature the LWR logo or include verbal acknowledgements during presentations or public forums. In 2024, the total program funding available was $300,000. Individual award amounts varied across funded projects, with examples including the City of Boulder receiving $20,600 for instructional videos and Delta County receiving $27,000 for public outreach tied to a CWPP update. The application period for the 2024 cycle closed on February 29, 2024, and a list of 12 awarded projects has been publicly shared. While the grant is currently closed, it is expected to recur annually. The application process and evaluation criteria were not detailed in the public source material. However, applicants are encouraged to work closely with CSFS contacts and local foresters, and sign up for updates to stay informed about future application cycles. The program serves as a strategic investment by the State of Colorado in improving public readiness and community resilience to wildfires.