Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper Announce Over $12 Million in Bipartisan Funds for Wildfire Mitigation Projects in Grand and Larimer Counties

Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper announced $12,422,814 in federal funding for community projects to reduce wildfire risk across Colorado’s 2nd District. These investments were made possible by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, which was launched thanks to funding Neguse worked to secure as part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“With fires raging across the West year-round, it’s more important than ever that we invest in wildfire mitigation projects throughout our communities. I’m proud to see that the resources that we fought to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will fund critical projects across Colorado,” said Congressman Neguse. 

“In the last few years, Colorado has faced increasingly devastating threats from the largest wildfires in our state’s history,” said Senator Bennet. “Investing in wildfire mitigation and preparedness is critical to safeguarding our communities, public lands, and way of life for future generations. I’m glad the investments we fought to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to benefit Colorado and support important wildfire preparedness efforts across the state.”

“Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is all about giving communities the tools to tackle 21st-century challenges,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “These local projects will help communities in Colorado and the West prepare for severe wildfires and address local risks. They’re the bipartisan solutions that Congress should deliver frequently.”

A total of eight projects across the state were granted more than $26 million in funding — three of them in Colorado’s 2nd District, partnering with the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management, the Grand County Wildfire Council, and The Ember Alliance.

“The Larimer County Commissioners are grateful for this Community Wildfire Defense Grant that will further enhance the work to protect watersheds and forests and to support our mountain communities to be stronger and more resilient,” said John Kefalas, Larimer County Commissioner.

“I am incredibly thrilled and deeply thankful for this USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant. As a Larimer Commissioner, I work monthly with our staff and valued partners and have followed this Gateway to the Rockies project from the beginning. This grant will bring critically needed resources to fund a collaborative and tremendously impactful project driven by our community partners. Thank you to Congressman Neguse for his leadership in wildfire matters and protecting our essential watersheds,” said Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County Commissioner.

“We are thrilled to be awarded these USDA dollars that will help us protect our residents and keep our mountain communities safe from destructive wildfires. The mitigation work outlined in the grant is critical for the health of our forests and the rivers that provide water for many people along the Front Range,” said Kristin Stephens, Larimer County Commissioner.

“Mitigation is our best line of defense against catastrophic wildfires in Larimer County. This grant will allow us to continue our landscape-scale mitigation efforts and is a reflection of the great collaboration between Larimer County and all of our partners to reduce risk to our communities,” said Lori Hodges, Larimer County Director of Emergency Management. 

“GCWC is very excited to accept this funding to extend previously completed fuel breaks in the Fraser Valley, connect to planned federal projects, and eventually tie into the East Troublesome burn scar. This is an important part of a network of projects that will reduce fire risk and lead to better forest and watershed health for Grand County and for those who rely on the Colorado River watershed. When combined with property owners’ vegetation reduction work, this will create solid community protective measures. Thank you to our federal partners for this opportunity,” said Jessica Rahn, Grand County Wildfire Council Executive Director. 

The Community Wildfire Defense Program provides at-risk communities, including Tribal communities, non-profit organizations, and state forestry agencies, with funding to plan for and mitigate wildfire risks. Details on the projects in Colorado’s 2nd District are outlined in the table below. 

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