Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have announced an $8.4 million investment through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP). The funding aims to accelerate forest restoration and reduce wildfire risk across the state by supporting projects that protect communities, watersheds, and critical infrastructure.
The latest round of funding includes 14 Workforce Development Grants designed to treat over 1,000 acres of forested land and provide training for more than 150 individuals in wildfire mitigation. Additionally, five Landscape Resilience Investments will be made in partnership with the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Wildfire Ready Watersheds program. These investments target high-priority watersheds in counties such as Garfield, Grand, Boulder, Jackson, and Montezuma.
“Here in Colorado, no matter what happens in Washington DC, we are aggressively expanding fire prevention strategies that work, and that includes the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program. This critical funding supports wildfire mitigation efforts across the state and helps Coloradans gain skills, and earn hands-on experience to become the next generation of well-equipped Colorado foresters,” said Governor Polis.
Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the DNR, noted the significance of this year’s expanded support: “This year, I am pleased we are able to provide significant new funding for on the ground hand crews and training and significant landscape scale projects to a wider range of Colorado communities for forest mitigation and watershed protection work. Our COSWAP program rose up out of the devastating 2020 wildfire season and I am proud of the growth and innovation the program has shown. It provides essential on the ground funding to help protect lives, property and critical infrastructure while helping our communities become more resilient in the face of larger, more complex wildfires.”
The Workforce Development Grant focuses on reducing wildfire risk through entry-level training opportunities supported by partners like the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and Department of Corrections’ State Wildland Inmate Fire Teams (DOC SWIFT). Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera has played a key role in securing investments for CYCA as well as opening pathways for AmeriCorps members to contribute to mitigation efforts.
Several youth corps organizations—including Larimer County Conservation Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Mile High Youth Corps, and Southwest Conservation Corps—received awards for six wildfire mitigation projects. DOC SWIFT teams will undertake three additional projects; five grants will fund basic wildland firefighting training.
Scott Segerstrom from CYCA emphasized COSWAP’s impact: “COSWAP is a transformational program in Colorado. Not only does it protect the lives and livelihoods of millions of Coloradans, it also unites people through service to their communities. This investment will develop the next generation of wildland firefighters… It represents the best of government allocating resources to proven impactful solutions.”
Deputy Fire Chief Kieth Novak from Pueblo highlighted local benefits: “The Pueblo Fire Department has obtained this grant funding every year since 2022… The City of Pueblo cannot express how much we appreciate being awarded this grant for three years in a row continuing into 2025… The work these crews do has significantly decreased hazard risk associated with fire spread to homes around rivers.”
A pilot project between Serve Colorado and Colorado National Guard with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is also underway outside COSWAP’s usual focus areas but leverages workforce development opportunities alongside community wildfire mitigation.
Major General Laura Clellan commented on this partnership: “Members of the Colorado National Guard make up a population that are dedicated to serving their state and nation… Through this program our part-time service members receive financial stability – building our military readiness-, our communities benefit from military training those service members have already received…”
COSWAP’s Landscape Resilience Investments focus on large-scale fuels reduction projects spanning multiple jurisdictions. This year’s special release with Wildfire Ready Watersheds directs $4.85 million among Boulder, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Fire Protection District,and Mancos Conservation District—covering over 1,300 acres during three years.
Each recipient is developing a Wildfire Ready Action Plan aimed at assessing potential impacts on community infrastructure while planning strategies ahead of future fires.
Chris Sturm from CWCB stated: “The Wildfire Ready Watersheds program is designed to help communities understand and mitigate risks that post-wildfire hazards pose… By integrating this work with COSWAP’s Landscape Resilience Investments we’re ensuring that wildfire mitigation efforts not only protect homes but also safeguard watersheds…”
Some funded projects—for example those involving Glenwood Springs or Grand Fire Protection District—are located within both high-risk fire zones as well as priority watersheds draining into major rivers like the Colorado River. Efforts integrating forest management with watershed health are expected to promote long-term ecological resilience statewide.
Since its establishment under Senate Bill 21-258,COSWAP has invested $25.4 million into landscape resilience programs along with $13.8 million towards workforce development initiatives.Grant opportunities continue annually or biennially depending on project type.
