Colorado: Governor Polis, State Forest Service Announce $8.5 Million in Wildfire Mitigation Grants

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DENVER ~ Denver, CO - Colorado's vast and diverse forests, spanning over 24 million acres, play a crucial role in providing clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation opportunities. In order to protect these valuable benefits and increase the resilience of Colorado's forests and communities against wildfires, Governor Jared Polis has announced $8.5 million in Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) grants to be distributed among 35 projects in 24 counties.

Since its inception in 2017, the FRWRM grant program has been administered by the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and has provided funding for a total of 312 projects covering more than 30,000 acres. These projects aim to improve the health of Colorado's forests and reduce the risk of wildfires, making communities safer.

Governor Polis emphasized the importance of proactive measures in preventing wildfires, especially during times of record low snow levels and severe drought. He stated that this funding will not only support firefighters but also keep communities informed and prepared for potential wildfire incidents.

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The FRWRM grant program requires a matching contribution from recipients either through cash or in-kind contributions. In areas with fewer economic resources, as determined by the social vulnerability index layer within the Colorado Forest Atlas, recipients must match 25% of the project total. All other recipients must match 50% of the total project cost. With these matching commitments combined with the grant awards, a total of $17.6 million will be dedicated towards reducing wildfire risk to communities, critical infrastructure, watersheds, and building capacity for long-term mitigation efforts.

The latest round of FRWRM grants will support various activities such as creating defensible space around high-risk subdivisions, removing hazardous fuels and beetle-killed trees, improving safety along evacuation routes for residents and emergency responders, protecting critical watersheds and drinking water sources, reducing wildfire risk to water infrastructure and wildlife habitat, and building capacity through education and outreach efforts.

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Matt McCombs, the state forester and director of CSFS, commended Colorado communities for their continued efforts in reducing wildfire risk. He stated that the FRWRM grant program has been a reliable way to carry out crucial forest health work across the state and educate Coloradans on living in a wildfire-ready manner.

The CSFS received 73 eligible applications for the 2025-2026 round of FRWRM grants and had $8.5 million available for distribution. Ultimately, 35 projects were selected to receive funding.

Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, highlighted the urgency of these grants in light of current conditions such as low snowpack, high temperatures, and an extended fire season. He stated that these funds will support much-needed projects to reduce wildfire risk around homes, water supplies, and other critical infrastructure while also promoting resilient communities.

The following counties received FRWRM funds during this funding cycle: Alamosa, Archuleta, Boulder, Chaffee, Conejo, Costilla, Douglas, El Paso, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral Montezuma Park Rio Grande Routt Saguache Teller.

The CSFS plans to announce the next round of funding assistance through the FRWRM grant program in fall 2026. For more information about the program and its impact on Colorado's forests and communities visit the CSFS website.

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