CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · State of California

At a glance

CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development is a closed California state grant opportunity from the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (State of California). The application deadline was May 20, 2026. Total estimated funding is $10M. Applicant types listed as eligible include business, individual, nonprofit, other legal entity, public agency and 1 more. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing or matching is required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Estimate · calculated by GrantsJunction

Expected to open around February 2027

This program has posted at about the same time each year. If it follows its pattern, the next round should post between Jan 15, 2027 and Feb 26, 2027, with about 69 days to apply.

Based on 2 past postings: Jan 15, 2024, Feb 25, 2026. Confidence: medium. Agencies can change or skip a year; only the agency's posted notice is official. Watch it and we'll email you when the next round posts.

Key facts

Feb 25, 2026Posted
May 20, 2026Application deadline

Opened: Feb 25, 2026
Close date: May 20, 2026
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: $10,000,000
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: State — Business and Workforce Development grants are part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Matching funds: 100% — Match requirement varies depending on project type. Business development projects between $10,000-$500,000 require a 100% match. Business development projects between $500,000-$3,000,000 require a 200% match. Workforce development proposals less than $500,000 do not require match. Workforce development proposals between $500,000-$3,000,000 require a 10% match.
Funding method: Advances & Reimbursement(s) — Advance payments will be considered for non-profit organizations with Workforce Development Grants. Advance payments are solely at CAL FIRE’s discretion and eligibility and will not be approved within six months of the Grant Agreement expiration unless authority to advance funds is extended.
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Estimated award amounts: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: Fund dependent
Expected award announcement: Q3 2026
Letter of intent: Not required
Geography: Statewide
How to submit: Online: https://gn.ecivis.com/GO/gn_redir/T/1vbcrw85mpvx9
Latest change note: Grant info has been updated.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Business
Individual
Nonprofit
Other Legal Entity
Public Agency
Tribal Government

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy team seeks to maintain and enhance the wood products infrastructure of California to promote healthy resilient forests throughout the state by supporting a diverse set of business development and workforce development projects.

Description

Eligible business development projects include facilities, operations, and professional services that support the restoration of healthy, resilient forests. Eligible workforce development projects include universities, colleges, government and community organizations, and businesses that aim to increase workforce capacity in the fields of logging, fuels treatment, manufacturing, or other support services that bolster the development of a resilient forest sector workforce. Research proposals that have the potential to facilitate an immediate benefit to California’s forest-sector businesses and/or workforce will also be considered. Check out the Wood Products website and subscribe for updates.

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2025–2697 applications · 17 awards

Counts as published on the California Grants Portal. Award counts can read zero until decisions are announced.

Program contact (as published)

Justin Britton
woodproducts@fire.ca.gov
1-916-224-7337

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Business, Individual, Nonprofit, Other Legal Entity, Public Agency and Tribal Government. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development”?

Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $10,000,000.

How do I apply for “CAL FIRE Business and Workforce Development”?

Applications go directly to Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://gn.ecivis.com/GO/gn_redir/T/1vbcrw85mpvx9. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.

OpenState of California