Hardin County to seek up to $250,000 in USDA funding to update wildfire protection plan
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Summary
Commissioners unanimously approved pursuing a USDA FY25 Community Wildfire Defense Grant of up to $250,000 to update or create a county wildfire protection plan; the grant requires a 10% local match and would be submitted via the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission.
Hardin County Commissioners on March 11 approved submission of an application for the U.S. Department of Agriculture FY25 Community Wildfire Defense Grant to update or create a Hardin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Emergency Management Coordinator Aaron Tupper asked the court to authorize the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission to submit the application on the county's behalf. He said the grant would be used to update or create a countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan and that the application would seek up to $250,000, with a required 10% local match because Hardin County is no longer classified as underserved.
The motion to authorize the submission was made by Commissioner Chris Kirkendall and seconded by Commissioner Ernie Koch. The court voted unanimously in favor.
Why it matters: a county wildfire protection plan can guide fuel‑reduction, defensible‑space, and community preparedness work; securing federal funds would cover planning costs but obligates the county to provide a local match. Next steps: staff will coordinate with the regional planning commission to prepare and file the USDA grant application.
Provenance: The request and approval appear in the commissioners' agenda and minutes presented to the court (see transcript evidence).