2025 Fall Fuel Reduction Grant Program

Funding Guidelines

Deschutes County has allocated $125,000 for the fall of 2025 to fund fuel reduction projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk in Deschutes County communities. Preference will be given to communities or neighborhoods that are working towards or have already achieved recognition as a Firewise USA ™ site and are proposing projects consistent with their Firewise action plan and community assessment.  

Purpose

Fuel Reduction grants are designed to assist communities with specific, short-term projects or activities related to reducing fuels and improving defensible space.

Activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:  

• Equipment rental
• Supplies for community work parties
• Contracting fees for roadside chipping, fuel reduction or defensible space creation
• Debris disposal fees

Requests for regular annual maintenance (i.e. pine needle raking and removal) and ongoing operational funding that cannot be sustained beyond the grant period are discouraged.

Eligibility

Applicants must work at a neighborhood or community scale to reduce wildfire risks. Individual properties are not eligible. Activities should focus on reducing wildland fuels and/or improving defensible space around structures.  

Funding

The funding available through June 30, 2026 is $125,000. There are no minimum or maximum limits on grant requests, however awards are anticipated to range between $100 and $5,000. Actual award amounts will depend on demand. 

Application

Applicants must complete and submit one electronic form. Competitive applications will include some matching resources (cash, volunteer time, or goods and services), though a match is not required. Applicants must provide a tax ID number with their application. Communities without a tax ID number are required to provide a fiscal sponsor with a tax ID.

Timelines

The first round of applications will be accepted from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30., 2025. Reviews will begin shortly thereafter, with potential site visits during the evaluation.  Applicants will be notified by early October. Late applications, received after Sept. 30, may be considered if funding is available.

Project work and reporting must be completed by June 30, 2026.   

Evaluation

Applications will be screened for completeness by Deschutes County staff and ranked on several factors including, but not limited to:

• Firewise USA™ site recognition or progression
• Alignment with Firewise USA™ action plan and community assessment
• Participation scale (number and/or size of properties)
• Focus on defensible space within 100 feet of structures
• Matching resources (cash or in-kind)
• Previous funding within the last fiscal year

Note: Incomplete applications may be returned to the applicant with a request for additional information.  

Awards

All applicants will be notified of funding decisions. Successful applicants will receive instructions on how to receive their grant award. A tax ID number is mandatory;  communities without one are required to have a fiscal sponsor with a tax ID.

Post-Award Requirements

Acknowledgment of Funding:
Grant recipients must acknowledge support from the Deschutes County Fuel Reduction Grant Program if they receive any public recognition related to the grant, such as media announcements, marketing materials, advertising, or information campaigns.

Final Report:
Recipients will be required to submit a written report upon completion of the grant funded project or activity, summarizing the results and certifying that grant funds were used as intended. Proof of expenses is required. To comply with restrictions on the use of public funds, recipients may be asked to furnish financial and accounting information for audit purposes. The report is due by June 30, 2026.

Compliance:
Grant recipients who do not comply with award requirements established by Deschutes County may be required to repay the funds received and may become ineligible for future funding consideration.

For additional information about the Deschutes County Fuel Reduction Grant Program, please contact Lauren Street, Natural Resources Specialist, at 541-322-7141 or forester@deschutes.org