| The Oregon Department of Forestry will issue a request for proposals today for $20 million in grants funded by Senate Bill 762. The Landscape Resiliency Program, authorized by Section 18 of Senate Bill 762, will award $20 million for landscape-scale projects meant to reduce wildfire risk through the restoration of landscape resiliency and reduction of hazardous fuels on public or private forestlands and rangelands and in communities near homes and critical infrastructure. Grant criteria were informed by bill language and a work group comprised of federal, state, and local government land management partners; federally recognized tribes; forestland and rangeland owners; forest collaboratives; and community organizations. Descriptions of grant criteria, applications, and instructions are available on ODF’s website. Proposals can be submitted to odf.restoration@oregon.gov and must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, January 7, 2022. A virtual event to discuss the program with potential applicants will be held from 6–8 p.m. Monday, November 29. It will include an overview of the grant program, review of key timelines, and time for questions and answers. You can access the virtual event on Zoom. Senate Bill 762 is comprehensive legislation passed with bipartisan support that will provide more than $220 million to help Oregon modernize and improve wildfire preparedness through three key strategies: creating fire-adapted communities, developing safe and effective response, and increasing the resiliency of Oregon’s landscapes. The bill is the product of years of hard work by the Governor’s Wildfire Council, the Legislature, and state agencies. Additional information about Senate Bill 762 is available on ODF’s website. |
