Blaine County Climate Smart Communities Initiative Project

We are thrilled to announce that The Keystone Concept, The Wood River Land Trust, and Blaine County’s 5B Climate Action Network (5B CAN) have been selected as a recipient team of the 2025 Climate Smart Communities Initiative grant!

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) has awarded 21 innovative community-led projects nationwide, totaling $2.2 million, to bolster climate resilience planning and adaptation efforts. This grant provides $99,000 in funding to our team in the Wood River Valley, paired with technical support, expert training, and peer learning opportunities, all aimed at helping us advance our climate resilience strategies over the course of the next 12 months (August 2025 - August 2026). Learn more about this project and our work, that begins in September 2025, in Blaine County’s August 13, 2025 Media Release.

**Thursday, December 11, 2025**

Blaine County Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI)

Seeks local Nature-Based Solution Project Proposals

Background

This effort builds on the momentum of the Wood River Valley Collaborative Forest Enhancement Project, funded by the USDA Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands, and directly supports the goals of the Blaine County Climate Action Plan. Through the Blaine County CSCI project, we will work with community partners to identify and provide funding support for high-priority nature-based solutions that address strategies outlined in Blaine County’s Climate Action Plan and forthcoming Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA).

Project Solicitation

We invite interested partners to submit project proposals that will implement nature-based solutions to build climate resilience across Blaine County. Project proposals must qualify in one of the three core priority areas:

  • Riparian Restoration

  • Community Forest Management

  • Wildfire Mitigation

Blaine County CSCI Project Application Form

Additional Details:

  • This funding opportunity has approximately $60,000 to award to high priority projects that are “shovel-ready” for implementation in Spring 2026.

  • All project proposals must be submitted using the Blaine County CSCI Project Application Form by no later than 5pm Mountain Time on February 13, 2026

  • All eligible proposals will be scored, evaluated, ranked and awarded by the CSCI Project Review Team and notifications of project awards will be announced by mid-March 2026

  • All projects must be completed before July 31, 2026

Who should apply?

Any group/individual in Blaine County with a project that meets the parameters and follows the project scoring rubric.

What’s Next for Blaine County’s Climate Smart Communities Initiative

and investments in healthy and resilient landscapes?

Blaine County’s Sustainability Department is thrilled with this opportunity to partner with Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI), The Keystone Concept and Wood River Land Trust to continue investing in both planning tools and on-the-ground climate action that helps the region accomplish the goals outlined in our Climate Action Plan – specifically under the umbrella of the 5B CAN Land, Water and Wildlife Conservation Task Force. This funding opportunity and CSCI partnership represents a continuation of the successful efforts of the Wood River Valley Collaborative Forest Enhancement Program that began in 2019 with funding from USDA Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands and will conclude in Spring 2026.

In-order to continue building momentum under this proven approach, Blaine County’s Sustainability Department is currently in discussion with stakeholders across the valley, including: 5B Restoration Coalition, municipalities, local NGO’s and others to develop a cohesive and effective approach for coordinated project development and funding resources to support healthy and resilient landscapes across the county. Stakeholders can expect to hear more from Blaine County in early 2026 as we move forward with this CSCI project and investigate the future for advancing this important work in a strategic and cohesive fashion with invested stakeholders.

Project Timeline:

  • December 11, 2025 - CSCI Project Solicitation Announced

  • Jan - Feb 2026 - Blaine County explores future healthy & resilient landscapes efforts with stakeholders (via conversations, surveys, etc)

  • February 13, 2026 – CSCI Project Application Deadline

  • Mid-March – Blaine County CSCI Project Awards Announced

    • March - Host CSCI Community Workshop #1 in Hailey / Ketchum - agenda TBD

  • March - April – execute agreements for projects

  • July 31, 2026 – all projects must be completed

    • July - Host CSCI Community Workshop #2 in Hailey / Ketchum - agenda TBD

For further information about this project contact Caroline Dean, Project Manager, via email at cjdean@umich.edu.