CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), through its Wood Products and Bioenergy Business and Workforce Development (BWD) Grant Program, provides funding to stimulate growth in California’s forest-sector economy and workforce. Funded in part by California Climate Investments, this program aligns with the state’s climate, forest restoration, and wildfire resilience strategies. Its overarching mission is to promote sustainable forest management while supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve public health, and enhance economic resilience—particularly in communities impacted by pollution and environmental degradation. Projects funded through this grant must align with plans such as the California Forest Carbon Plan, the Natural and Working Lands Implementation Plan, the Wildfire & Forest Resilience Action Plan, and other climate-related mandates. The program offers two distinct funding tracks: Business Development and Workforce Development. Business Development grants support infrastructure, manufacturing, and operational initiatives that expand wood products and biomass utilization, including sawmills, bioenergy production, and primary/secondary wood processing facilities. Workforce Development grants focus on training and upskilling individuals in forestry-related careers, including in-woods operations, fire mitigation, transportation, and manufacturing. Projects may include planning, capacity building, and environmental compliance efforts. All applicants must demonstrate how their project supports GHG reduction goals or facilitates long-term climate benefits, even when the activities do not directly yield quantifiable emission reductions. Eligibility for this program is broad. Business Development grants are open to academic institutions, local, state, and federal agencies, tribes, non-profits, and private entities involved in wood product operations or related infrastructure. Workforce Development grants share similar eligibility but specifically target organizations offering recurring, certificate-based training. Applicants must comply with environmental laws such as CEQA or NEPA and demonstrate readiness to execute the proposed project, including site control, community support, and project feasibility. Projects must be completed by September 30, 2030. Award amounts range from $10,000 to $3,000,000. Business Development grants require a 1:1 match for awards up to $500,000 and a 2:1 match for amounts exceeding that. Workforce Development projects do not require match for requests up to $500,000, and only require a 1:9 match for amounts above that. Match contributions can include in-kind services, time, or other grant funds, but must be relevant and committed during the performance period. Indirect costs are capped, and advances are permitted only for Workforce Development grants led by non-profits. Applications are submitted through CAL FIRE’s EUNA GRANTS Portal. The application must include a scope of work, environmental compliance worksheet, budget, applicant qualifications, and for business applicants, a business plan. The application deadline for this cycle is May 20, 2026. Awards will be announced in September 2026. Applicants are encouraged to request consultations prior to submission, and preference is given to projects with environmental permits in place, demonstrated readiness, or alignment with preferred project types such as operations in bottleneck regions, biomass utilization, and workforce expansion in forest-related industries. Evaluation criteria are rigorous, with separate scoring rubrics for business and workforce proposals. They include project background, financial and technical viability, GHG impact, community support, and alignment with state and program goals. Projects benefiting priority populations or disadvantaged communities may receive additional consideration. Selected applicants will receive a grant agreement and are required to submit quarterly activity reports, performance metrics, and a final closeout summary. CAL FIRE retains discretion to amend or terminate projects based on non-compliance or lack of progress.

Projects with CEQA completed, strong match secured, or priority population impacts may score higher; community support letters recommended.