The Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) has announced its largest investment to date in workforce development grants, awarding $6.9 million to 24 projects across the state. The funding is aimed at supporting wildfire mitigation efforts and training initiatives in partnership with the Colorado Youth Corps Association and the Department of Corrections’ State Inmate Wildland Fire Team (SWIFT).
COSWAP was created after the severe 2020 fire season to protect lives, property, watersheds, and infrastructure while also developing a professional workforce for forestry and wildfire management. This year’s grant cycle saw significant demand, with 35 applications requesting over $13.3 million.
“Colorado is no stranger to devastating wildfires. This year we are experiencing record drought numbers, now more than ever it is important to invest in wildfire prevention strategies to protect our communities,” said Governor Jared Polis. “By investing $6.9 million into these local wildfire prevention initiatives , we are reducing fire risk for our communities and watersheds while creating good-paying jobs and training the workforce Colorado needs to build a more resilient future.”
The 2025 Workforce Development grant will fund projects focused on reducing hazardous fuels using early career hand crews equipped with chainsaws and chippers. These crews will create fuel breaks, clear dangerous vegetation in high-risk areas, and improve evacuation routes. Project selection prioritized locations that connect with other recent or planned treatments to enhance protection of critical infrastructure, property, and water resources.
Some funded projects address challenges caused by mountain pine beetle outbreaks along the front range—areas noted for high wildfire risk and population density. Since 2022, COSWAP has invested over $20 million through 56 projects along this corridor.
Training opportunities supported by the grant include basic wildland firefighting skills, chainsaw operations, and prescribed fire exchanges—measures intended to strengthen Colorado’s skilled mitigation workforce.
“This funding enables us to focus where wildfire risk is highest,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “From the Front Range to the Western Slope, we are putting crews to work on federal, state, local, and private lands. These awards will turn plans into progress by providing the boots on the ground required to thin overgrown forests and protect our communities.”
Highlighted projects include:
– Frisco Wildland Urban Interface in Summit County: A project near population centers where SWIFT crews will remove dead trees from White River National Forest.
– Colorado National Guard near Steamboat Springs: Rocky Mountain Youth Corps will involve National Guard members in conservation corps work on Emerald Mountain.
– Hotchkiss Fire Chainsaw Training in Delta County: Volunteer firefighters will receive chainsaw training for mitigation work.
– La Plata County Cross-Boundary Work: Collaboration between Southwest Conservation Corps and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps aims at building resilience across public-private boundaries.
“This historic round of funding is a testament to the power of partnership in Colorado,” said Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association. “We are particularly excited to welcome the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) into this work. By integrating ALCC’s deep connection to the land and Indigenous-led stewardship with our statewide efforts, we are ensuring that wildfire resilience is built by, and for, all of Colorado’s communities.”
“Partnering with COSWAP has allowed us to fill our calendar for the next two years, providing stable, meaningful work for our crews,” noted Mitch Karstens, Director of Colorado Correctional Industries. “Our members aren’t just clearing brush; they are gaining certifications and real world experience that will allow them to step immediately into forestry jobs upon their release.”
The grants operate on a two-year cycle; another opportunity is expected in fall 2027.
