2012 Community Assistance Grants Process For Oregon

Approximately $500,000 is available within Oregon for community hazardous fuels reduction projects. Only two applications per county will be accepted (one from state entities and one from non-state entities). There will be $250,000 maximum per project proposal and a match is not required.

Local CWPP groups will collaboratively develop hazardous fuels treatment projects on non-federal lands within high priority areas identified in the statewide assessments and resource strategies and within a completed CWPP.

Successful applications will meet the following federal criteria:

• Project is identified within a completed CWPP

• Adjacent to any federal land fuels reduction project completed within the last three years or planned within the next three years

• In a high priority landscape area identified in the Statewide Forest Assessment and Resource Strategy (See Word DOC)

• Include a map clearly identifying the project area on non-federal lands and the adjacent federal project or projects (map must be smaller than 2 Mb). Also include key Forest Service contact for FACTS reporting for the project

The CWPP group will also recommend which organization involved in the group, such as a non-profit group, county organization, or state organization, would be the most appropriate to submit the project proposal and become the grant recipient.

Application form is available at: NFP Application FY12.doc
Please contact Dennis Fiore (BLM) 503.808.6334 dfiore@blm.gov or Alan McGuire-Dale (FS) 503.808.2345 amcguiredale@fs.fed.us for further information regarding the grant process for this year. Your local CWPP working group and/or local state forestry representative may be available to assist as well.

Proposal applications, including a map no larger than 2Mb must be submitted, to blm_or_nw_fire_plan_grants@blm.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16th, 2012.

Criteria for Scoring:
Successful applications will meet the following federal criteria:

• Project is identified in a completed CWPP

• Adjacent to any federal land fuels reduction project completed within the last three years or planned within the next three years

• In a high priority landscape area identified in the state-wide assessment

• Includes a map that clearly identifies the project area on non-federal lands and the adjacent federal project or projects. Also includes key Forest Service contact for FACTS reporting.

Review at the statewide level will consider:

• Meets the above considerations. If not, the application will be ineligible.

• Project integration with other hazardous fuels projects and programs

• Communities with new projects may be prioritized higher than those that have been awarded a National Fire Plan grant in the last two fiscal years, both from the Western States Fire Managers grant process and from this Wildland-Urban Interface Community Assistance grant program

• Project’s enhancement of community capacity (e.g., educate on FireWise principles, provide jobs/job training, assisting underserved communities)

Grants will be scored based on the following: (highest possible score is 13)

1. Project Purpose: Clearly describes the need, the hazards/risks, the goals and objectives, the work, and the deliverables
Clearly defined = 2 ; Needs more info = 1; None = 0

2. Timeline: How much time will be invested and are there good prospects for achievement in the given timeframe?
Achievable? Yes Clearly = 2; Yes but needs more info/inaccurate/etc. = 1; No = 0

3. Is the project collaborative? Collaborators input is clearly defined = 2; Collaborators listed but roles not defined = 1; Not there = 0

4. Sustainability: What does the project look like beyond the funds?
Clearly defined = 2; Mentioned but not defined = 1; Not mentioned = 0

5. Budget items clearly defined
Achievable? Yes Clearly = 2; Yes but needs more info/inaccurate budget/etc. = 1; No = 0

6. Is the project measurable? Clearly defined outputs/deliverables = 2; Mentioned but not clear =1; No = 0

7. Project integration with other hazardous fuels projects/ programs
Yes = 1; No = 0

The Oregon Independent interagency review panel will provide recommendations to the PNWCG FMWT by Thursday, April 5th, 2012.

PNWCG FMWT will review each state’s proposal list and make its 2012 grant program recommendation to the PNWCG Steering Committee, when it will be affirmed by PNWCG for grant selection by Wednesday, April 18th, 2012.

Applicants will be notified by the PNWCG FMWT regarding their application by Wednesday, April 23rd, 2012.