DENVER - With Colorado facing an urgent need for proactive forest management, today the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) announced its largest Workforce Development grant investment to date. A total of $6.9 million has been awarded to 24 projects across the state for strategic wildfire mitigation and training in partnership with the Colorado Youth Corps Association and Department of Corrections' State Inmate Wildland Fire Team (SWIFT) crew.

Launched in response to the record-breaking 2020 fire season, COSWAP's dual mission is to protect Colorado's lives, property, watersheds and critical infrastructure while bolstering a professional pipeline for the next generation of forestry and wildfire professionals. This grant cycle saw an unprecedented level of interest, with 35 applications requesting over $13.3 million, demonstrating the high demand for local mitigation needs.

"Colorado is no stranger to devastating wildfires. This year we are experiencing record drought numbers, now more than ever it is important to invest in wildfire prevention strategies to protect our communities," said Governor Jared Polis. "By investing $6.9 million into these local wildfire prevention initiatives , we are reducing fire risk for our communities and watersheds while creating good-paying jobs and training the workforce Colorado needs to build a more resilient future."

The 2025 Workforce Development grant funds high-impact fuels reduction projects suitable for early career hand crews. Using chainsaws and chippers, crews will create fuel breaks, reduce hazardous fuels in high-risk areas, and improve evacuation routes. When selecting projects for funding, COSWAP considers the strategic placement of the project on the landscape connecting with other recent or planned treatments to amplify landscape-scale protection and nearby values at risk to protect the most critical infrastructure, property, and water resources.

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Additionally, the COSWAP program is funding a number of projects facing impacts from the mountain pine beetle outbreak along the front range which is occurring in the areas of the state with some of the highest wildfire risk and population density. COSWAP has invested over $20 million dollars through 56 projects along the front range since 2022.

Recognizing that effective mitigation requires a skilled workforce, the grant program also funds statewide training opportunities, including basic wildland firefighting, wildland chainsaw operations, and Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges.

"This funding enables us to focus where wildfire risk is highest," said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. "From the Front Range to the Western Slope, we are putting crews to work on federal, state, local, and private lands. These awards will turn plans into progress by providing the boots on the ground required to thin overgrown forests and protect our communities."

This grant round includes several unique partnerships and high-priority locations:

• Frisco Wildland Urban Interface in Summit County ($448,640): In partnership with the Department of Corrections' SWIFT crews, this project was selected for its proximity to population centers and services. Crews will remove dead and downed trees in the White River National Forest to protect residential areas and popular recreation sites around Frisco.
• Colorado National Guard near Steamboat Springs ($173,314): Building on a successful pilot season in 2025, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps will recruit Colorado National Guard members to provide dual service to their country by also serving as conservation corps members working on wildfire risk mitigation with the Bureau of Land Management on Emerald Mountain. Guard members gain invaluable wildland fire experience while protecting one of Steamboat's most iconic recreation areas.
• Hotchkiss Fire Chainsaw Training in Delta County ($6,188): The Hotchkiss Fire District is an all volunteer fire and rescue department serving a rural, low-income town in western Colorado. They will receive local chainsaw training to expand their services to include mitigation work when not responding to fires. This training also increases opportunities for these volunteers to turn their service into a professional career in forestry and wildfire mitigation.
• La Plata County Cross-Boundary Work ($412,875): This project is a collaborative effort between the Southwest Conservation Corps and COSWAP's newest partnership with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to bridge the gap between the San Juan National Forest and the Durango Hills subdivision to build fire resiliency across both public and private property boundaries.

"This historic round of funding is a testament to the power of partnership in Colorado," said Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association. "We are particularly excited to welcome the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) into this work. By integrating ALCC's deep connection to the land and Indigenous-led stewardship with our statewide efforts, we are ensuring that wildfire resilience is built by, and for, all of Colorado's communities."

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"Partnering with COSWAP has allowed us to fill our calendar for the next two years, providing stable, meaningful work for our crews," noted Mitch Karstens, Director of Colorado Correctional Industries. "Our members aren't just clearing brush; they are gaining certifications and real world experience that will allow them to step immediately into forestry jobs upon their release."

These 2025 Workforce Development grants are awarded on a two-year cycle, with the next funding opportunity anticipated in the fall of 2027. For a full list of awardees and more information on COSWAP's impact, visit our website.

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