FY23 Southern Area State Fire Capacity Hazard Mitigation | USDA FS 2023 0831 MIT

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2023 0831 MIT

The FY23 Southern Area State Fire Capacity (SFC) Hazard Mitigation grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the USDA Forest Service designed to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen community and landscape resilience across the Southern Area. The program aligns with the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, emphasizing two core outcomes: restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes across jurisdictions, and creating fire-adapted communities where people, homes, and critical infrastructure can better withstand wildfire without loss of life or property. In practice, proposals are expected to show a direct connection to hazard mitigation and measurable community wildfire risk reduction rather than general forestry or emergency response needs.

Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to focus clearly on actions that help communities become more fire-adapted. Priority activities include reducing hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), where development meets or intermixes with flammable vegetation and wildfire consequences are often most severe. The program also supports the development and implementation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), which typically identify local wildfire hazards, prioritize at-risk areas, and guide mitigation work through community-driven planning. In addition, the opportunity highlights prevention and mitigation education, along with Fire Adapted Communities and Firewise programming and related hazard mitigation efforts that encourage residents and local organizations to take practical steps such as defensible space improvements, home hardening awareness, evacuation readiness, and coordinated local risk reduction.

Beyond the Cohesive Strategy goals, the Forest Service notes that SFC Hazard Mitigation priorities reflect broader national agency priorities, including improving the condition of forests and grasslands and promoting shared stewardship. That means competitive applications often demonstrate collaboration across partners, jurisdictions, and community groups, show how the work complements other local or regional efforts, and describe how partnerships, volunteer engagement, and coordinated implementation will increase the project’s reach and durability. The overall theme is community-focused wildfire mitigation delivered through strong partnerships and on-the-ground actions that reduce exposure and vulnerability in the WUI.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state governments, counties, cities or townships, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in the nonprofit category). A key submission requirement is that any applicant that is not a State Forestry Agency must include a letter of support from the State Forestry Agency when applying through Grants.gov, with Tribes specifically exempted from this letter requirement. This requirement signals that the Forest Service expects coordination with state forestry leadership to ensure alignment with statewide wildfire mitigation priorities and programs.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA FS 2023 0831 MIT, with an original closing date of May 14, 2023, and a creation date of March 15, 2023. It uses the grant funding instrument and falls under activity categories tied to disaster prevention and relief and natural resources. The program lists CFDA numbers 10.664 and 10.698. The anticipated maximum award amount is $300,000 per award, and the Forest Service expected to make about 28 awards, indicating a competitive process where proposals benefit from clear scope, strong partnerships, and a direct line of sight to wildfire hazard mitigation outcomes in or affecting communities.

• The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the disaster prevention and relief, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 Southern Area State Fire Capacity Hazard Mitigation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.664, 10.698.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 15, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 28 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA FS 2023 0831 MIT

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