The Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program helps communities across the United States reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning, compelling communication, and applied research. All services are grant-funded and provided at no cost to participating communities.

Selected communities typically receive one year of direct technical assistance from CPAW staff and partners.

Any community in the United States may apply, including towns, cities, counties, and tribes. The applicant must have authority over local land use and zoning decisions.

Homeowners associations, subdivisions, and other neighborhood organizations are not eligible to apply directly but are encouraged to contact their local planning department to pursue a community application.

Application timeline

Applications close July 31, 2026

Decisions delivered September 30, 2026

MOU & onboarding December 2026

Work begins January 2027

Selected communities are asked to sign a one-year memorandum of understanding and commit staff time to work with the CPAW team. Exact commitments vary by type of assistance.

The interdisciplinary CPAW team draws in various experts depending on the wildfire risks and needs faced by the community. Read more about what we do and where we work.

CPAW is a program of Headwaters Economics, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Established in 2015, CPAW is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and private foundations.