Colorado State Forest Service Extends Grant Deadline for Community Forest Restoration and Water Protection Projects

The Colorado State Forest Service has extended the application deadline for Colorado Community Forest Restoration grant proposals. The grant program was established by the 2007 Colorado General Assembly and was continued through the passage of Senate Bill 071 in 2008. Up to $2 million in grant funds will be available through the program this year, thanks to the addition of $1 million in federal funding. All grant applications are due by 4 p.m. Oct. 24. Awards will be announced in December.

The purpose of the grants is to encourage diverse local stakeholders to work together to develop forest restoration proposals that protect critical water supplies and address related forest health challenges such as wildfire risk reduction, community protection, ecological restoration and woody biomass utilization.

Landowners and others with the legal authority to contract for work on properties where projects are being proposed may apply for a grant. All projects must be associated with a completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan that has been approved by the Colorado State Forest Service. Additional consideration will be given to projects that involve the Colorado Youth Corps Association or another accredited Colorado Youth Corps.

The state share of total project cost may not exceed 60 percent per project. Grant recipients will be required to match up to 40 percent of the total project cost through cash, in-kind contributions or federal funds.

A technical advisory panel convened by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources will review project applications. The Colorado state forester will make final selections and notify successful applicants.

Applications and additional information about the CFR grant program are available on the Colorado State Forest Service Web site at http://csfs.colostate.edu.

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