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This workshop provides an overview of the Fire Prevention Grants Program, focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from uncontrolled wildfires. Learn about the grant guidelines and eligibility criteria, including the benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities. The program covers hazard fuel reduction, fire prevention planning, and public education. Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2024.
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Fire Prevention Grants Program Fire Prevention Grant Guidelines Overview • Reduction of GHG from uncontrolled wildfire, including • Less wildland fires started • Reduction in total acres burnt • Structures not damaged or destroyed by wildfire • Benefits to defined “Low Income” and “Disadvantaged Communities” • Linkage for protecting habitable structures in the SRA (Not required to be in SRA)
Fire Prevention Grants Program Grant Guidelines Overview • Hazard Fuel Reduction / Dead & Dying Tree Removal • Fire Prevention Planning • Fire Prevention Public Education • Grants will run through March 15, 2024
Eligible Applicants • State Agencies • Native American Tribes • Local government within or adjacent to State Responsibility Area (SRA), including: • Incorporated Cities and Counties • Fire Districts • Community Services Districts • Water Districts • Resource Conservation Districts • Other Special districts • Fire Safe Councils with a 501(c)3 designation • Other non-profit organizations with a 501(c)3 designation such as Certified Local Conservation Corps
Ineligible Projects Some examples of non-qualifying project types and activities: • Purchase of capital equipment > $250,000 (excludes vehicles). • Installation, creation, upgrade, or maintenance of fire protection features, such as roads, bridges, structure’s or water storage facilities. • Any project submitted by a for profit company. • Projects or activities with indirect costs greater than 12%. • Projects or activities utilizing CAL FIRE staff without corresponding reimbursements or requests seeking funding for services already provided by CAL FIRE. • Removal of dead and dying trees that do not pose a threat to public health and safety.
Electronic application packet submissions • NIFC/Mapping submissions • Articles Of Incorporation (AOI) • Various Standard Forms (204,19,21) • Board Resolution • Grant End Date Application Process
Try to submit your application & supporting materials ahead of the deadline of 3:00 pm PST on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. • You should request a Project Tracking ID per application as soon as possible when starting the application process • You will receive a tracking number for each application you are submitting as well as a link to a Box.com folder. Please accept the invitation for each folder and follow account set-up and login instructions. • Entries submitted/modified after the deadline will automatically be rejected Application Process (cont.)
Geo Point • Treatment Influence Zone (TIZ) • Project Influence Zone (PIZ) • DO NOT contact NIFC for any login issues. • Applicants must request this information as early as possible during the grant application process. Requests that are made less than one week prior to the due date (after November 26, 2019) may not be considered. • Email at FPGrants@fire.ca.gov for any NIFC/Mapping questions. • Applications without Polygon(s) and Geo Point will not be accepted. WEB MAP APP
Mistakes to Avoid APPLICATION • Acres • Project Acres- The Project influence Zone (PIZ) is the broad geographic area encompassing the neighborhoods or communities that the grant proposal is designed to protect with fuel reductions, public education, or planning activities. This can be the sum of all treatment areas or could include a buffer area around the planning / public education target. Please keep the PIZ from encompassing an overly large area, unless benefits are clearly defined in the Scope-of-Work. • Treatment Acres-.-Treatments are areas within a PIZ, where on-the-ground activities are accomplished (e.g. hazard fuel reductions, shaded fuel breaks, masticating, etc.). There can be multiple discrete Treatment areas associated with a PIZ. Some projects (e.g., Planning & Public Education) may NOT have treatment areas.
Mistakes to Avoid (cont.) NIFC/MAPPING • If you applied for the Grants last year, you should have a NIFC account. • GEO Point should be the center of your project • Drawing polygon for entire California State is not acceptable. • Provide the correct email address and phone number • You must request a NIFC account no later than November 26, 2019
Solicitation Process March 2020 Unsuccessful Applicants Notified Grant Applications Submitted to CAL FIRE Review of Applications Successful Applicants Notified to Receive Grant December - February December 4, 2019 Grantees May Start Working on Project Grant Agreements Issued Grant Agreements Executed By May 2020 By September 2020
CEQA • Projects requiring CEQA review are required to provide documented compliance within 12 months from the grant execution. • Ground Work cannot begin until CEQA requirements have been completed.
Grantees should budget funds to cover the costs of CEQA Compliance. CEQA
Letters of Support Letters of Commitment • Written letters of commitment from partnering agencies must be submitted with the application • Community support will be considered as part of the scoring criteria External communication plans are encouraged such as project signage, community meetings, press releases and field tours
Monthly Billing • Invoice Process • Required Documentation • Back-up Documentation • Link to the Invoice Template can be found on the CAL FIRE Grants homepage at https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/ Invoicing process
Advance Payment Requests • Can be up to 25% of grant award amount for eligible entities • Must be fully liquidated before another advance can be issued • Accountability Reports • Must be filed every four months upon receiving Advance Payment • Advance Payment should be expended within a six (6) months timeframe upon receipt Grant Administration Process
The following forms can be found on the CAL FIRE Grants webpageat https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/ • Invoice Template • Resolution • Advanced Payment Request & Report Accountability Form • Quarterly Report Template • Final Report Template Grant Administration Process (cont.)
Allowable Costs • Unallowable Costs • Indirect Costs Costs
Resource Saturation • Land Use agreements • Following all deadlines Things to Remember
Remember-OnlyYOU can PREVENT FOREST FIRES! Conclusion Thank you for your commitment to fire prevention and attending the CCI FIRE PREVENTION Grants Workshop.