Hazardous Fuels Removal / Survivable Space Initiative Cost Share

How it works

The City of Rapid City’s Urban Interface Management Plan includes a Survivable Space Initiative that provides hazardous fuels removal cost share for private landowners in the city. The plan says the city program works alongside a South Dakota matching grant, and that landowners may be reimbursed after the work is done. (archive.rcgov.org)

What the money covers

The program is for hazardous fuel removal tied to wildfire risk reduction on private forested property. The plan describes it as thinning private forest and reducing wildfire risk. It is separate from the city’s Mountain Pine Beetle tree-removal component. (archive.rcgov.org)

Amounts and matching

If state funding is available, the city may reimburse 75% of the landowner’s net cost after state funding is applied, with a maximum city reimbursement of $1,500 per parcel. The plan gives an example where state funding covers 50% and the city then covers 75% of the remaining net cost. If no state funding is available, or the landowner does not qualify for the state 50/50 program, the city cost share is 50% of the lowest bid, capped at $2,500 per parcel for parcels 2 acres or less and $5,000 per parcel for parcels greater than 2 acres. The attachment also states the hazardous fuels removal city supplement is 75% of net cost after the state grant, maximum $1,500 per parcel, and that all maximums are per calendar year depending on available funding. (archive.rcgov.org)

How to apply

The landowner must contact Rapid City Fire Department to request a hazardous fuels assessment, obtain 3 quotes from a list of contractors provided by Rapid City Fire, submit the relevant cost-share assistance form, hire a contractor after approval, and then submit a project completion certification plus a paid invoice for reimbursement processing. (archive.rcgov.org)

Timing and deadlines

The plan says cost share is first-come, first-served and ends when funds run out or by city council action. It also states reimbursement requests are processed after completion, and the program operates on a per-parcel, per-calendar-year basis. (archive.rcgov.org)