The goal of the grant, known as the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grant, is to reduce wildfire risk across the country while supporting local businesses, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture press release.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the grant provides an opportunity to create jobs and help the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service achieve its goals.

“The timber and wood products industry helps support healthy and sustainable forests,” Vilsack said. “Thanks to historic funding from the Biden-Harris administration, this funding opportunity enables local communities to create and support jobs while helping the USDA Forest Service implement sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk and support the Wildfire Crisis Strategy.”

The Forest Service specifically seeks out local companies or partners that will remove woody materials that can serve as fuel for wildfires. These woody materials typically have little commercial value because their value is often outweighed by the cost of transportation.

In 2024, there were about 15 wildfires in Iowa.

The same grant from the previous year helped remove 59,000 tons of hazardous fuels from nine national forests and transport them to facilities where the material was converted into firewood, animal bedding and debarked wood poles.

For-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, government agencies and tribal nations are eligible to apply.

Applications will be assessed on a range of criteria, including treatment of hazardous fuels, area treated, cost-effectiveness, readiness for implementation, innovation and benefits for disadvantaged communities.

Applications must be submitted by September 5th and scholarship winners will be announced later this year.