Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) announced that it has awarded $10 million in grant funding to 17 projects that will strengthen California’s forest-sector workforce, reduce wildfire risk, restore forests, and increase the beneficial use of woody biomass.

These projects are part of CAL FIRE’s Business and Workforce Development Grants, which support innovative solutions that advance forest health, wildfire resilience, and rural economic development. Funded through California Climate Investments, the grants support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building California’s capacity to manage forests and address wildfire risk. 

“The strength of this year’s awards is the diversity of projects they support, from training the next generation of forestry and fire professionals to expanding businesses and facilities that put forest restoration materials to productive use,” said CAL FIRE Assistant Chief and Wood Products and Bioenergy Team Program Manager John McCarthy. “Together, these investments build California’s capacity to manage forests, reduce wildfire risk and strengthen rural economies.”

Grants will support projects across California, including:

• Expanding wildfire risk reduction capacity through new forestry and mastication equipment that will increase the pace and scale of hazardous fuels and forest health treatments. 
• Increasing the beneficial use of forest materials through sawmill modernization, biomass processing, firewood production and redevelopment of a former mill site in Siskiyou County. 
• Training the next generation of California’s forest workforce through programs that connect students and educators with forestry careers and provide hands-on fire and forestry training. 
• Expanding the prescribed fire workforce through training programs that will provide hundreds of workers with certifications and field experience, including training for future California Certified Prescribed-Fire Burn Bosses.
• Building Tribal and regional capacity through resource advisor training and workforce programs focused on forest health, wildfire resilience, watershed restoration and related fields. 

Together, these 17 projects will train hundreds of workers, create new career pathways, expand the capacity to conduct forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction, and strengthen markets for wood and biomass generated through forest management. For example, one project will train 650 workers and provide more than 2,400 certifications, while another will provide more than 15,000 training hours and 400 certifications.

Over the last five years CAL FIRE’s Business and Workforce Development Grants have been awarded $129 million to 131 projects. These investments align with California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and efforts to expand the use of beneficial fire, improve forest health, protect communities, create jobs and increase the beneficial use of materials generated through forest management.

California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and efforts to expand the use of beneficial fire, improve forest health, protect communities, create jobs and increase the beneficial use of materials generated through forest management.

Learn more about Business and Workforce Development grants and see a list of funded projects.