Enclosure 3A
MULTI-AGENCY NATIONAL FIRE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Community Assistance and Economic Action Programs
Project Summary Form
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Lake County Resources Initiative
Phone:
541-947-5461
FAX:
Email:
541-947-3268
jwalls@gooselake.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
25 North E Street Suite 3 Lakeview Oregon 97630
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
James Walls Executive Director
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Lake County Resources Initiative
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-947-5461
541-947-3268
jwalls@gooselake.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Building Capacity and Market Infrastructure for Community Participation in the National Fire Plan
Project Start:
Project End:
October 1, 2002
September 30, 2003
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$50,000.00
$62,500.00
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
This project is a community-based comprehensive strategy for National Fire Plan implementation
from the watershed to the woodshop. This includes the following five tasks: 1) creating and
capturing fuels reduction contract opportunities; 2) develop a revolving loan pool for local
contractor bonding 3) providing training to local contractors and workers to enable them to do this
work.
Project Location:
County:
Congressional District:
Lake County Oregon
Lake
2nd
Project Type:
Community Fire Plan
Business Plan
Market/Feasibility Study
Education/Prevention Program
Fuels Management Plan
Fuels Treatment Project
Fuels Utilization Project (demo/pilot/production)
Equipment Purchase/Lease/Rental
Other (Describe)
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Certification
I hereby certify that I am authorized by
Fire Plan.
Name:
Signature:
James Walls
to submit this application to a federal agency offering assistance through the National
Title:
Date:
Executive Director
Enclosure 3B
Page 2 of
7
MULTI-AGENCY NATIONAL FIRE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Community Assistance and Economic Action Programs
Project Narrative Description
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than
one page, single space, 12 pitch font.
Briefly describe project including, but not limited to:
What is the opportunity problem or need that the proposal seeks to address? Address the following:
 project implementation
 urgency
 anticipated outcomes
 connection to the National Fire Plan
 partners
 time frame
Implementation of the National Fire Plan represents a significant opportunity for economic growth
in Lake County by integrating local skills and abilities with the ecological needs of the land. During 2002
and 2003, Lake County Resources Initiative proposes to implement projects which will build community
capacity to participate in the reduction of wildfire hazards on public lands. Our strategy includes increasing
the ability of community residents to engage in on-the-ground wildfire risk reduction activities, and
developing a program that assists local contractors in meeting bonding requirements.
Lake County Resources Initiative is a Lakeview, Oregon-based nonprofit organization dedicated to
environmentally sound economic development in Lake County. We propose to accomplish the Fire Plan
objectives through the following activities:
· Developing and implementing contract design innovations on Fremont National Forest contracts and
providing targeted workforce training in Lake County to local contractors in new work types and techniques
Response:
Demonstrating a "light touch" mechanical harvester and advocating for its use on national forest contracts
Developing and disseminating information targeted to the specific needs of community residents, civic
groups, government agencies and businesses involved in National Fire Plan implemention.
Hosting a field tour to explore on-the-ground results of fuels reduction projects and to evaluate contracting
authorities provided in Title IV of the FY 2000 Interior Appropriations bill
Aggregated, these projects ensure that immediate attention and support is given to creating community
capacity as it pertains to Fire Plan implementation. Further, it will serve as a model for other such efforts.
Innovative contracts and information will empower local communities to participate in fire risk reduction
activities. Work with national and regional envoirnmental groups on a concensus plan that allows long term
contracting for fuels reduction,appropriate contracting mechanisms and development of an ecosystem
restoration fund. The tour will allow awareness and understanding at the national level of local issues and
concerns.
A full list of non-profit, business and governmental partners is attached.
Enclosure 3B
Page 3 of 7
MULTI-AGENCY NATIONAL FIRE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Community Assistance and Economic Action Programs
Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following project criteria, where applicable. Limit your
responses to the areas provided. The following criterion is worth up to 10 points in the evaluation process.
1. Expanding community participation.
Describe how interested parties have been provided an opportunity to become informed (outreach) and to what extent does support
for the project seem apparent?
Describe local cash or in-kind contributions. What is the longevity of the commitment and how will the project be maintained or
sustained?
Describe how outreach will be conducted to assure that all interested individuals and organizations will have equal access to the
benefits of the project (Civil Rights Title VI compliance).
Response:
Lake County Resources Initiatives has identified individuals and businesses currently engaged, or planning to
participate, in forest restoration as a means for rural livelihood. As a result, LCRI has a network of nearly 30
project partners. This effort is continuing to identifiy and assist local workers and contractors who are
interested in this type of work. In addition, efforts are being made to implement viable markets for products
from previous forest restoration projects. LCRI has contributed hundreds of hours towards strengthening this
Partnership and sharing information about it. Other Community partners have donated countless hours, effort
and support. Approximately $12,500 in matching funds have been committed from Sustainable Northwest,
( the parent organization of LCRI), alone.
However, our previous accomplishments in outreach are just the beginning. Implicit in our work is to expand
networks with specific attention given to reaching under-served populations. Furthermore, the emphasis of
all the proposed work is on capacity building. It is the intent of LCRI to foster the creation of community
programs that will be self sustaining. This will be accomplished both by creating enterprises that are
profitable and by leveraging additional funds when goals are broader than economic self-sufficiency.
2. Increasing local capacity.
Describe how the project increases community capacity, educates the public or improves local conditions or infrastructure.
How is the project clearly tied to local or multi-community strategies, or does this proposal create a plan?
What is the opportunity for providing sustainable diversification and improvement to the local economy?
How many local jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long?
Response:
Because the notion of increasing capacity is inextricably linked with the mission of Lake County Resources
Initiatives, every aspect of the proposed project has a component that invests in local communities. Also,
each of the proposed projects is directly connected to an existing community asset, business, or strategy.
The training courses give real skills to potential contractors that increase their competitiveness for local
contracts. The marketing assistance will improve the viability of restoration-based businesses while
simultaneously building the marketing skills of rural entrepreneurs. Finally, investments in equipment create
lasting capacity for local businesses to compete with more highly capitalized operations.
It is our hope that the described projects will facilitate the creation permanent jobs as well as seasonal
contracting opportunities in the county. By intentionally working with a diverse portfolio of businesses,
LCRI increases the stability of restoration-based economies and therefore improves the retention of
associated jobs.
Enclosure 3B
Page 4 of 7
MULTI-AGENCY NATIONAL FIRE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Community Assistance and Economic Action Programs
Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following project criteria, where applicable. Limit your
responses to the areas provided. The following criterion is worth up to 10 points in the evaluation process.
3. Increasing interagency coordination.
Describe the level of cooperation between federal, state, tribal and local government and community organizations in planning or
implementing this project?
Who are the partners in carrying out this project?
Will expertise from resource agencies be included in project implementation?
Response:
Project partners include local, state and national agencies such as the Lake County Chamber of Commerce,
Lake County Commissoners, Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, and the USDA
Forest Service. Additionally, private non-profits ranging from national environmental groups such as the the
Wilderness Society to local entities such as the Ecosystem Workforce Project are active partners in the
proposed activities. Business partners are another valuable component of the project. Whether it be Collins
Pine which can utilize millions of board feet annually or a furniture maker that uses only a few hundred small
diameter poles, the business partners keep us grounded in the realities of resource-based economies.
The resource agencies are among the most valuable partners because they manage the land upon which our
projects are based, and also because they possess a wealth of relevant knowledge. Agency personnel serve on
the board of directors of LCRI. They also will be integral partners on three levels of the project
implementation; 1) innovations in contracting a resource procurement, 2) harvesting and manufacturing
technologies, 3) research related to markets.
4. Learning from people.
Were other alternatives considered and, if so, why were they rejected in favor of this proposal?
What are the environmental, social, or educational benefits of the project?
What are the short and long-term outcomes from this project? How will they be measured and reported?
How can this project be used by other communities?
Response:
Lake County Resources Initiative is involved in a wide range of activities related to forest management;
however, only those activities related to the objectives of the National Fire Plan are included in this proposal.
The proposed projects will promote increased fuels management treatment by building worker capacity and
by using marketing to add value to residual products. The environmental benefits of this work will be twofold: Fire risk will be reduced, especially where it interfaces with the human environment; and, overall forest
and watershed health will be improved. In the long-term, creating local opportunities for the workforce
allows them to remain in their community and perpetuates their historical role as stewards of the land. The
long-term health of the land contributes to the long-term health of the community. Anticipated socioeconomic benefits beyond job creation include local capital investment, workforce training, and value-added
manufacturing. Outcomes will be measured by counting jobs created or retained, volumes utilized, value
added locally, and by assessing community involvement in Fire Plan Implimentation. A major goal will be to
get a minimumof 10 environmental groups to agree to a strategy for fuels reduction, long term contracts and
suitable contract language.
Enclosure 3B
Page 5 of 7
MULTI-AGENCY NATIONAL FIRE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Community Assistance and Economic Action Programs
Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following project criteria, where applicable. Limit your
responses to the areas provided. The following criterion is worth up to 10 points in the evaluation process.
5. Reducing fire risk.
How will the project reduce fire risk to the community over the short and long-term?
How will the proposal provide fire protection for communities, watersheds, and/or threatened and endangered species?
If biomass or small diameter material is removed, will it be utilized and, if so, estimate how much (tons, MBF, cunits, other)? How
will the material be utilized?
What is the geographic scope of this project (acres treated, number of communities served, other)?
Are needed permits, environmental clearances, signed agreements and volunteers in place?
Response:
The proposed projects will reduce fire risk on several different levels. The Lake County pilot projects will
allow for on-the-ground implementation . Market development for small diameter products will facilitate risk
reduction treatments regionally by increasing the economic incentives for such treatments. Finally, by
building and supporting a skilled workforce both in the forest, and in the mill, the project will perpetuate local
communities' long-term ability to care for the land and reduce fire risk.
It is difficult to state a volume of small diameter that will be removed as a result on this proposal. It is the
hope of this project that the majority of volume will be derived from restoration activities such as fire risk
reduction. It is also the hope of LCRI that capacity will grow to respond to growing markets, further
increasing the acreage that could be treated. The project will take place in Lake County, Oregon. Most
planned restoration work has NEPA or other environmental clearances in place. Environmental groups fear
fuels reduction projects are a means to return to logging national forests. by obtaining their support for
projects, it will be possible to aliviate roadblocks to getting needed work accomplished to reduce fire threats.
Enclosure 3C
MULTI-AGENCY NATIONAL FIRE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Community Assistance and Economic Action Programs
Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Contract design innovations on the
Fremont National Forest
October 2002-March 2003
LCRI Program Associate
Workforce Training: Restoration
Techniques
March - June 2003
LCRI Program Associate
Workforce Training: HUB Zone
contracts
Fall - Spring 2003
LCRI Program Associate
Workforce Training: Contract bidding,
October 2002 - May 2003
licensing, bonding
LCRI Program Associate
Light Touch Mechanical Harvesting
Demonstration Project
Spring - Summer 2003
LCRI Program Associate
Develop bonding opportunities for
contractors
Fall 2002-2003
LCRI Director
Meet with environmental groups
Winter 2003
LCRI Director