A whole lot of local homes are about to get safer with $492,806 in wildfire mitigation grant funding, and all of it is coming from the county.
Summit County Wildfire Council reviewed a record-setting 30 applications and awarded money to 19 projects, including three at local deed-restricted neighborhoods.
One project, the Elk Run cistern project for dozens of properties north of Silverthorne, is getting nearly $144,000. That’s more than one-quarter of all funding this cycle.
Three workforce neighborhoods in Dillon Valley and Wildernest are getting a combined $35,000. The towns of Blue River and Keystone won a combined $28,000 for homes and the Keystone municipal building. Beetle Kill Tree Guys won nearly $78,000 for work across the county.
This grant money is approved for clear cutting, wildfire buffers, and deadfall removal, known as hazardous fuels reduction, and other “wildfire protection plan” projects like emergency water access and evacuation routes.
Money comes from the voter-approved Strong Futures fund, generating $1 million annually for community fire protection.
New this year, the wildfire council is taking applications and awarding grant money all summer. In past years it was one time only. Find the Summit County wildfire grant application online.