US Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) - Mendocino County Partnership

US Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)

Geographic Scope: Mendocino County, California

Grant Recipient: Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) as the primary grantee

Focus Areas:

• Establishment of additional Firewise USA®-certified communities throughout Mendocino County
• Community education on wildfire preparedness and resilience
• Enhanced Micro-Grant funding specifically for neighborhoods becoming Firewise-certified
• Firewise-level wildfire preparedness requiring:
  • Risk assessment and action planning
  • Tracking fire-safe work hours and community investments
  • Implementation of comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategies

Eligible Applicants:

• Neighborhood Fire Safe Councils interested in pursuing Firewise USA® certification
• Communities ready to implement Firewise-level preparedness standards
• Neighborhoods at any stage of wildfire preparedness planning

Key Program Features:

• Support for communities to take steps toward Firewise certification
• Technical assistance for developing risk assessments and action plans
• Additional funding available through enhanced Micro-Grants for Firewise-certified neighborhoods
• Focus on comprehensive community-level safety and preparedness

Why Firewise Focus:

• Firewise-level preparedness recognized as the best approach to reach high level of community safety and preparedness
• Comprehensive methodology requiring assessment, planning, and tracking of fire-safe investments
• Creates framework for sustained, measurable wildfire resilience

Contact Information:

• Eva King, Outreach Coordinator
• Email: king@firesafemendocino.org
• Phone: (707) 518-3088
• Website: firesafemendocino.org (Firewise USA section)
• Mailing Address: Mendocino County Fire Safe Council, P.O. Box 263, Ukiah, CA 95482

Getting Started with Firewise Certification

How to Participate:

1. Contact Eva King to discuss your neighborhood's readiness for Firewise certification
2. Receive technical assistance in assessing your community's current fire resilience
3. Develop a risk assessment and action plan for your neighborhood
4. Work with MCFSC staff to implement Firewise standards
5. Apply for enhanced Micro-Grant funding upon achieving certification
6. Track fire-safe work hours and community investments

Support Available:

• Technical assistance from MCFSC staff
• Guidance on Firewise USA® certification requirements
• Help developing risk assessments and action plans
• Enhanced grant opportunities for certified communities
• Community education resources

Contact for Information:

• Eva King: king@firesafemendocino.org or (707) 518-3088
• Website: https://www.firesafemendocino.org (see Firewise USA® section for certification information)

Timeline:

• Implementation period: 4-5 years from June 2024
• Flexible start dates for interested neighborhoods