Apply by Nov. 1, 2024, for the Fall Cycle of the Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program

Key Points:

• $2 million in grant funds are available to support forest and grassland wildfire mitigation projects in Boulder County

• Applications for the Fall 2024 cycle will be accepted through Nov. 1

• View eligibility requirements and apply on the Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program webpage

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County has released the application for the next round of Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grants (SFMG). Project funding is available for local government agencies, fire protection districts, and community organizations to increase the pace and scale of wildfire mitigation across the county.

Established in 2023, the SFMG program has awarded over $2 million to support projects such as grassland mowing and grazing, forest thinning, prescribed burns, and the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP). The SFMG program, which is funded by the voter-approved wildfire mitigation sales and use tax, emphasizes funding for large landscape-scale or community-wide projects that actively engage landowners.

"The Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant has allowed the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts (BVLCD) to implement over 100 acres of wildfire risk mitigation and forest health treatments in Boulder County, said BVLCD Forestry Program staff. “These funds have helped to increase forest resiliency, protect infrastructure, and enhance wildlife habitat. We are immensely grateful to the county and the SFMG program for their support of our projects and those of our partners as they are directly increasing implementation of conservation work on the ground."

“Thanks to funding from the Strategic Wildfire Mitigation Grant program, The Watershed Center is conducting a wildfire mitigation project across multiple properties in Raymond Riverside, said Chiara Forrester, Forest Program Director for local nonprofit The Watershed Center. “These communities are situated in a high-risk area with only one access route. They also border the Middle St. Vrain Creek, a vital source of drinking and agricultural water for Lyons and Longmont. This project aims to reduce community risk, improve ingress/egress routes and firefighter safety, enhance forest resilience to wildfires and other disturbances, and prevent excessive post-fire sediment from contaminating water supplies.”

Application Information and Project Contact

The grant application window for the fall 2024 cycle is Sept. 20 through Nov. 1. The next cycle will open in the Spring of 2025.

To learn more about eligibility, the application process, and current projects, please visit the SFMG webpage.

For more information, contact Meg Halford, Wildfire Partners Forest and Grasslands Project Coordinator, at mhalford@bouldercounty.gov or 720-564-2843.

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