Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation

The Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) Grant Program is a state-funded initiative administered by the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). Established in 2017 through Senate Bill 17-050, the program merged two preexisting efforts: the Colorado Forest Restoration Grant Program and the Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program. In 2021, the Colorado General Assembly expanded the scope of FRWRM and allocated additional resources to enhance community-level wildfire risk mitigation. The program is designed to support proactive projects aimed at reducing wildfire threats to people, property, and critical infrastructure in Colorado’s wildland-urban interface (WUI), while promoting forest health and responsible utilization of woody materials. The FRWRM program provides cost-share grants to eligible applicants through a competitive process. For the 2025–2026 grant cycle, approximately $7.2 million in funding is available. The program allows for two distinct types of projects: "Fuels and forest health" and "Capacity building." Fuels and forest health projects focus on reducing wildfire risk and promoting ecosystem restoration using science-based forestry practices. Capacity-building projects are designed to enhance community capabilities, particularly staffing and resources needed for forest restoration and risk mitigation efforts. Capacity-building projects will be limited to 25% of the total funding available. Importantly, the program does not fund post-fire rehabilitation activities. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations that operate within or in close proximity to Colorado’s designated WUI. These include local government entities such as counties, municipalities, fire protection districts, and other special districts; local community groups like homeowner or neighborhood associations; public and private utilities; state agencies with land at wildfire risk; and nonprofit groups that promote hazardous fuel reduction projects in partnership with other stakeholders. Applicants must have legal authority to administer the grant and implement treatments, ensure landowner participation in monitoring and reporting, comply with environmental laws, and adhere to Colorado Forestry Best Management Practices. Applications will be accepted from August 1, 2025, until 5:00 p.m. MDT on October 9, 2025. The anticipated pre-award date is February 11, 2026, and final awards will be announced by March 31, 2026. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2030. All proposals must clearly benefit multiple individuals or entities, and all grant activities must be conducted within the state of Colorado. For projects that involve federal lands, funding may be used only if the total project area includes more non-federal than federal land and maintains landscape continuity within one mile of federal land. The FRWRM program aligns with the Colorado Resiliency Framework, encouraging applicants to address nine resiliency prioritization criteria in their proposals. While the full Request for Applications will be released at the start of the application window, prior projects offer insight into allowable expenses, which include equipment purchases, staffing support, and fuels reduction activities. Funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis, and awardees must adhere to specified reporting and monitoring guidelines. No minimum or maximum grant award amounts are stated, and the number of awards will depend on project scope and competitiveness. During the previous funding cycle, $7.04 million was distributed across 37 projects statewide. Of this, $5.7 million was allocated to fuels reduction projects, while $1.3 million supported capacity-building efforts. Prior recipients include local fire districts, tribal organizations, counties, coalitions, and nonprofits, all of which contributed to wildfire mitigation and forest health enhancement. For further assistance or inquiries during the application process, interested applicants are advised to contact their local CSFS field office.