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Jefferson County seeks $100,000 CoSWAP grant to fund youth wildfire mitigation crews
Summary
Open Space staff asked commissioners to authorize a $100,000 grant application to the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (CoSWAP) with a $25,000 county cash match to support youth crews performing fuel reduction and forest health work. Commissioners voted to apply and authorized the county manager to execute the agreement if awarded.
Julie Hogan, research and grants coordinator for Jefferson County Open Space, asked the board on Oct. 14 to approve submitting a $100,000 grant application to the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (CoSWAP). The request included a $25,000 local cash match already budgeted in Open Space.
Hogan described the program as funding youth corps crews that perform wildfire mitigation work such as managing slash piles, supporting aspen restoration and maintaining fuel-reduction projects across the county. She said the state visitor to one of the county’s sites described the work as “exactly what they wanted to see” — both for mitigation outcomes and workforce development of young crew leaders.
Why it matters: The CoSWAP-funded crews carry out on-the-ground vegetation management that can reduce wildfire risk in priority locations and build a pipeline of work-ready youth for natural-resources jobs.
What the board did: Commissioners voted in favor of submitting the application and authorized the county manager to execute grant documents and a supplemental budget if the award is made.
Ending: Hogan said Open Space has coordinated with other county divisions and expects the crews to work in multiple locations across Jefferson County; staff will return with grant documents if the award is made.
