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Cal Fire Awards $14 Million In Grants

SACRAMENTO–The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Wood Products and Bioenergy Team awarded $14 million in new grant agreements this week. These projects will increase California’s capacity to establish healthy, resilient forests through workforce and business development.

The 10 new awards (link to awards list) will go to non-profits, family businesses, wood products manufacturing facilities, and county and local governments. These partners are building the infrastructure and capacity to sustainably manage California’s forests as outlined in California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan is designed to strategically accelerate efforts to:

  • Restore the health and resilience of California forests, grasslands and natural places.
  • Improve the fire safety of our communities.
  • Sustain the economic vitality of rural forested areas.

Since January, $54 million has been awarded through this new grant program. Projects are aligned with the State’s climate mitigation and economic development goals.

As climate change puts a great strain on our forestry and fire personnel, Cal Fire’s investment in our program has helped us to increase wildfire personnel who were formerly incarcerated or from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

–Cari Pang Chen, Bay Area Director of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, a non-profit that was awarded a workforce development grant earlier this year.

Our 2022 grant supports expansion to the Bay Area and deepens our work across the State in providing the necessary training and preparation for helping our participants transition successfully to forestry and fire careers with family-sustaining wages.

Cal Fire’s Business and Workforce Development grant awards are funded with State of California General Funds. The solicitation remains open to new grant applications. Please visit Cal Fire’s Wood Products and Bioenergy webpage for details.

 

 

CONTACT:

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Deputy Chief of Communications

(916) 651-FIRE (3473) Calfire.dutypiogfire.ca.gov

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