Eligible landowners across Brown County, including parts of Brownwood and areas around Lake Brownwood, can seek full reimbursement for wildfire-prevention work through the second round of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program.
The application period opens Oct. 5, 2026, and closes Nov. 5, 2026. The program is being announced by the Pecan Bayou Soil and Water Conservation District in partnership with the Texas A&M Forest Service, Comanche Electric Cooperative Association and Brown County.
What the grant can cover
The program offers 100% reimbursement to landowners in eligible project areas for brush management, tree and shrub pruning, and range planting. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant program and is administered through the U.S. Forest Service and Texas A&M Forest Service.
The stated goal is to reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires in and around Brown County communities. Round 2 adds project areas identified in the Brown County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Areas included in Round 2
Eligible locations include areas in and around Brownwood, Early, Bangs, Blanket, May and Zephyr. The designated areas also include locations around North Lake Brownwood, including Thunderbird Bay, Tamarack Mountain and Harbor Point.
Other listed project areas include Oak Point, the area near the dam, the Hideout, Sandy Beach, Dominion Point and the Jenkins Spring area. The announcement says additional areas will become eligible in March 2027, when Tier 3 projects open.
Any non-federal property within an eligible area may receive funding under the grant. Property owners should confirm eligibility before preparing an application because coverage is based on the project-area map.
How to check eligibility and apply
Landowners can review the map online at brown-county-wildfire-grant-projects.joseph-tongate.workers.dev. The map allows users to zoom in to locate a property, search for a name as it appears in Brown County Appraisal District records, or use the “Find my location” button.
For application assistance, contact Cy Tongate at 325-430-3117 or [email protected]. Applicants may also visit the Pecan Research Station at 701 CC Woodson, Brownwood, TX 76801.
The Pecan Bayou Soil and Water Conservation District lists the same phone number, email address and Brownwood address for contact. Applications must be submitted during the Oct. 5-Nov. 5 window.