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HomeMy WebLinkAboutProject Wildfire Presentation Grant RequestEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: Project Wildfire Organization Description: Created by county ordinance, Project Wildfire spearheads community efforts toward effective fire planning and mitigation. This is achieved through education and participation in wildland fire prevention activities. Project Name: Project Wildfire presentation in Washington, DC Project Description: Project Wildfire has been invited to address the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) at their 20th Annual Seminars and Dinner. Eleven people have been invited to participate. CFSI will pay the cost of dinner for three attendees. This request is for the cost of dinner for the remaining eight attendees ($800 - $100 each). Additionally, this request seeks assistance for Jake Keller, a member of the Upper Deschutes River Coalition, to cover part of travel and lodging expenses ($1,200). The Upper Deschutes River Coalition is a non-profit organization and is unable to fund Keller's trip. Project Period: April 4, 2008 Amount of Request: $2,000 Previous Grants: • September 2005 - $3,785 (Luke $3,785) • February 2007 - $1,000 (Luke $500, Baney $500) • April 2007 - $3,500 (Off -the -Top) • August 2007 - $4,250 (Luke $3,250, Baney $1,000) Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Melton Commissioner Dennis R. Luke Date: 1/16/08 Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Commissioner Michael M. Daly All Three Commissioners Project Wildfire presentation in Washington, DC. X 3/15/08 $2,000 Applicant/Organization: Address: Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: Deschutes County Project Wildfire 115 NW Oregon Avenue, Suite 117 Contact Name(s): Fax: Joe Stutler, County Forester Katie Liehthall, Proiect Wildfire Coordinator 388-2719 Alternate Phone: Tax ID #• City & Zip: Telephone: Email: 408-6132 Joe 4/4/08 3/15/08 93-6002292 Bend, OR 97701 322-7117 Joe 382-1675 Katie joest a;co.deschutes.or.us KI ighthalI @bendcable.com On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Amount Approved: By: Date: Declined: By: Date: Project Wildfire Proposal to Deschutes County Economic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization Project Wildfire is the organized result of a Deschutes County effort to create long-term wildfire mitigation strategies and provide for a disaster -resistant community. Created by County ordinance 8.24.010, Project Wildfire is the coordination for Deschutes County that facilitates, educates, disseminates and maximizes community efforts towards effective fire planning and mitigation. Our mission is to prevent deaths, injuries, property loss and environmental damage resulting from wildfires. We achieve our mission through education and involvement in wildland fire prevention activities such as the FireFree program and the development and maintenance of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). Originally convened as a local mission of the federal Project Impact effort in 1999, the group evolved into Project Wildfire with a community -wide focus on wildland fire prevention, mitigation and education. Project Wildfire is governed by a 27 member steering committee comprised of leaders from all local, state and federal fire agencies as well members of the private sector including elected officials, a marketing consultant, forestry consultants, homeowners associations, insurance representatives and environmental advocates. Project Wildfire is the only group across the nation that is created by County ordinance to specifically address the risks of wildland fire in a community. Project description Project Wildfire has become a leader across Central Oregon and the United States in wildland fire mitigation and education. Project Wildfire is tasked with the coordination and growth of the FireFree program as well as the facilitation and monitoring of the Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) in communities within Deschutes County that are at exceptionally high risk for the threat of wildfire. Over the last three years, Project Wildfire has been asked to speak at local, national and international conferences to share the successes we encounter here in Central Oregon and how they can be replicated in other fire prone areas. Recently Project Wildfire was asked to participate on the Blue Ribbon Panel to address Wildland Urban Interface Issues. Over the last year, Project Wildfire members have traveled to Washington, D.C. to discuss and produce recommendations for a national policy on wildland urban interface fire. In 2007, Project Wildfire was selected to present at the 4th Intemational Wildland Fire Conference in Seville, Spain to share experiences and the successes of both Project Wildfire and FireFree programs with an international audience. As a result of the work accomplished in Deschutes County and our contributions to the Blue Ribbon Panel, Project Wildfire has the opportunity to address the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) at their 20th Annual Seminars and Dinner. The CFSI has invited a panel of Project Wildfire members to present at the workshop and attend the dinner. This is the first time in the 20 -year history of the Congressional Fire Services Institute Seminars and Dinner that wildland fire issues will be on the agenda for presentation and discussion. For the last 19 years only structural fire and emergency medical issues were the primary topics for discussion and action. This is a monumental triumph in itself and the Project Wildfire Steering Committee is excited that wildland urban interface issues are getting national attention, with Deschutes County leading the way. Project Wildfire members and participants are invited to speak and/or attend the Seminar and Dinner including: Dennis Luke, Deschutes County Commissioner, Project Wildfire Tammy (Baney) Melton, Deschutes County Commissioner Joe Stutter, Deschutes County Forester & Chair, Project Wildfire Katie Lighthall, Program Coordinator, Project Wildfire Lisa Clark, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, Project Wildfire Travis Medema, District Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry Jake Keller, Upper Deschutes River Coalition Patti Gentiluomo, Environmental Director, Sunriver Owners Association, Project Wildfire Gary Marshall, Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal, Bend Fire Department, Project Wildfire Tom Fay, Manager, Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2, Project Wildfire Eileen Stein, City Manager, City of Sisters, Project Wildfire As part of the invitation, the CFSI is prepared to pay for the cost of three dinners for Project Wildfire members and reduce the price of the dinner for the remaining eight Project Wildfire panelists to $100 per plate instead of the advertised $275 per plate. Of the eleven invitees, Jake Keller is a long time participant in Project Wildfire activities representing the Upper Deschutes River Coalition. The Coalition is a non profit group that does not have sufficient travel budgets to pay for travel and lodging expenses to send Mr. Keller to Washington, D.C. with the rest of the Project Wildfire group. Project Wildfire is seeking a grant to cover the expense of the CFSI dinner for the remaining eight Project Wildfire representatives and to assist with travel and lodging expenses for Jake Keller. We are requesting $2,000 from the Economic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program for this project. Timeline The Congressional Fire Services Institute Annual Seminars and Dinner will be held April 3-4, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The group will travel to Washington, D.C. on March 31, 2008 and will spend April 1-2, 2008 meeting with representatives from the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Homeland Security. We anticipate booking travel and lodging by February 15, 2008. Improving our community's economic health Project Wildfire contributes to the safety of our citizens and the economic viability of our community by helping to mitigate the threat of catastrophic wildfires in Deschutes County. A recent calculation of economic value in Deschutes County estimates $18 billion at risk. If a catastrophic wildland fire threatens or destroys the communities of La Pine, Sunriver, and the greater Bend area, over 2/3 of that estimate could be affected. Our goal is to reach as many residents and visitors of Deschutes County as possible with the wildland fire prevention message that can save lives, property and businesses. The opportunity to meet with department heads at the national offices of the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will allow us to communicate with national leaders about the impact of their grants in Deschutes County and reiterate the importance of continued funding to support hazardous fuels reduction and education programs here. The CFSI Dinner will allow us to continue this networking effort with over 2,000 representatives of national organizations and federal agencies. Through the efforts of the Deschutes County Forester and Project Wildfire, we have secured over $2 million for communities in Deschutes County. This funding employs local contractors, provides for safer communities and continues to enrich the economic landscape of Deschutes County. Communities that will benefit from project All of Deschutes County benefits from the work of Project Wildfire. The development of seven Community Wildfire Protection Plans was just the beginning. As part of the implementation and monitoring of those plans Project Wildfire writes grants to help fund hazardous fuels reduction efforts across the county. These grants come from multiple grantors including the National Fire Plan — Community Assistance Grant Program. This program is funded through the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Additionally we received a $1.1 million pre - disaster mitigation grant from the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) which significantly treats private lands within Central Oregon. The opportunity to communicate directly with national policy makers and department heads to appeal for the continued funding of these valuable grant programs is a chance for us to support the efforts of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and demonstrate the valuable impacts that national policy has here in Deschutes County. Expenses The Congressional Fire Services Institute will provide air travel and lodging for two of the speakers and the dinner fees for three of the speakers. The remaining travel and lodging expenses are the responsibility of each attendee and/or organization. This grant will pay for the cost of the dinners for the remaining eight presenters. Economic Development Grant CFSI dinner for 8 Project Wildfire speakers at $100 each $800 Assistance with travel & lodging expenses for Jake Keller $1,200 Totals $2,000 The remaining $1,200 will help pay for the air travel and lodging costs for Jake Keller to present at the Seminars and Dinner. It is our understanding that hotel expenses in Washington, D.C. are steep. We expect $300-$400 per night for hotel costs. Mr. Keller is prepared to pay for the balance of his travel expenses above the $1,200 contribution. This is a one time event and we do not anticipate the need for future funding of this project. Thank you for the opportunity to continue our partnerships across Deschutes County and the nation, to serve all the citizens here.