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USDA Forest Service |
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Eureka, 3 June, 2003
Six Rivers National Forest has awarded $541,404 in Rural Community Assistance grants for nineteen (19) projects in Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity Counties this year. According to Forest Supervisor S. E. “Lou” Woltering, “These grants will help local communities define their future, diversify their economies and protect their homes from the risk of wildfire.” The funds are distributed between three grant programs, and are being provided to local communities, Tribes, nonprofit organizations and County governments.
The Forest awarded fifteen (15) grants totaling $319,390 through the Economic Recovery Program, which is intended to help diversify economies of rural communities and develop or enhance forest and natural resource-based industries. Projects include community action planning in Willow Creek, the development of a tourism plan for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, a variety of tourism strategies for Humboldt County, training for new community leaders in rural communities, and a downtown revitalization program for Rio Dell.
The National Fire Plan Economic Action Program funds projects that will lead to the economic use of small diameter wood and other materials removed during fuels management activities. The Forest funded three (3) grants totaling $94,514; projects include fire planning in the Upper Mattole valley and a feasibility study for the use of small diameter materials for biomass electrification.
The Community Protection Program was established in 2002 to help communities located near National Forest Service lands reduce fuels and protect private property from the risk of wildfire. The Forest awarded $120,000 to the Orleans Somes Bar Fire Safe Council to reduce hazardous fuels on 100 acres of private lands in and around the Orleans and Somes Bar communities.
For more information about the Six Rivers National Forest rural community assistance projects, contact Laura Chapman, Rural Community Assistance Coordinator, at (707) 441-3549, or lchapman@fs.fed.us.
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