CAL FIRE has awarded $10 million in grants supporting 17 projects across California, in a round of funding aimed at increasing forest-sector workforce capacity, including in logging and fuels treatment. The money is designed to fund education, training, and tools for people interested in forestry careers, while also paying for equipment to clear hazardous vegetation and expanding certification opportunities for prescribed fire work.
The new round is part of a much larger campaign. Over the last five years, the agency's Business and Workforce Development Grant Program has now supported 131 projects across California, providing $129 million in total support. State officials say the investments are meant to support the health and resilience of California's forests while building the skills and knowledge needed to reduce wildfire risk and protect communities.
Where the Money Actually Comes From
The grants are funded through California Climate Investments, which includes cap-and-invest dollars, according to the California Grants Portal. California Climate Investments aims to reduce emissions while supporting the economy and disadvantaged communities.
The program also applies different rules depending on project size. Business development proposals seeking more than $500,000 require a match of up to 200%, while workforce development projects under $500,000 require no match, per the same state grants portal.
A Program With a Growing Track Record
Tuesday's award builds on a steady drumbeat of prior funding rounds. Before this cycle, CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy Program had already awarded more than $105 million to over 105 business and workforce projects statewide since 2022, according to SusanvilleStuff.com.
Local examples show how the dollars translate into training on the ground. In Trinity County, grant funding helped Hayfork High School begin construction on a sawmill in 2024, a project intended to spark interest in forestry, the California Farm Bureau reported. Many Northern California sawmills have shuttered over past decades.
The Million-Acre Goal Behind the Grants
All of this feeds into a much bigger target. California has set a goal of treating 1 million acres annually by 2025, according to the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. A related state strategy sets a target of expanding prescribed fire and cultural burning to 400,000 acres annually.
Challenges include time-sensitive cone collection and limited climber services. CAL FIRE's seed inventory is roughly 45,000 pounds, and seed shortages and collection challenges persist.
Turning Forest Waste Into Fuel
Grant funding has supported wood-products infrastructure and business-development projects.
The bigger picture is that this workforce push isn't happening in isolation. Hoodline previously reported on $70M in fire-line grants aimed at local governments and fire-safe councils.
