The Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) is preparing the 2023 Workforce Development Grant program to be released at the end of August. This Workforce Development Grant can be used on all land ownership types across the state.
Since our first release in 2022, we have listened to feedback and are offering additional training opportunities and optional cash grants for project management expenses, in addition to the crew time awards with the Department of Corrections SWIFT and CYCA accredited conservation corps. Projects and training awarded in this round of funding will be completed in 2024 and 2025.
The Strategic Focus Areas identified in the first round of COSWAP will continue to be used in this 2023 grant. These include:
1. Boulder County
2. Douglas County
3. El Paso County
4. Jefferson County
5. La Plata County
6. Larimer County
7. Teller County
8. Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative Focal Areas
-Southwest Colorado (Parts of Dolores, Montezuma, and La Plata Counties)
-Upper Arkansas (Chaffee and Lake Counties)
-Upper South Platte (Parts of Arapaho, Clear Creek, Douglas, Jefferson, Park and Teller Counties)
Below is a snapshot of the 2023 COSWAP Workforce Development Program:
1. Wildfire mitigation work completed by a Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) accredited conservation corps
Projects must fall within the Strategic Focus Areas. This is a crew time award with an optional cash grant for project expenses.
2. Wildfire mitigation work completed by an independent conservation corps
According to The Corps Network, (conservation) corps are locally-based organizations that engage young adults (generally ages 16 – 30) and veterans (up to age 35) in service projects that address recreation, conservation, disaster response, and community needs. Independent conservation corps must be located in Colorado. Projects must fall within the Strategic Focus Areas. This is a cash grant.
3. Wildfire mitigation work completed by the Department of Corrections State Wildland Inmate Fire Teams (DOC SWIFT)
DOC SWIFT crews are only available within a 3 hour drive from Cañon City. This is a crew time award with an optional cash grant for project expenses.
4. Wildfire mitigation workforce training
To better develop Colorado’s current workforce COSWAP will fund training opportunities for mitigation and prescribed fire. These trainings are available STATEWIDE.
We understand that there are many wildfire mitigation grant opportunities open at this time. The official Request for Applications and subsequent applications will all be available on our website at the end of the month. Please forward this informational email along to partners that have expressed interest in COSWAP. To ensure you are receiving updates from COSWAP please
fill out the form here.
Alison A. Lerch, Wildfire Mitigation Program Administrator
Executive Director's Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I dnr.colorado.gov
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COSWAP's website
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