Steve Troxler, Commissioner | North Carolina Department Of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Steve Troxler, Commissioner | North Carolina Department Of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Landowners in North Carolina interested in securing cost share reimbursement funding through the Forest Development Program (FDP) are encouraged to contact their local N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) county ranger’s office or consult with a forester. The FDP is designed to assist eligible landowners with forest stand improvement, site preparation, and tree-planting initiatives.
Applications for the program must be submitted to the local NCFS county ranger’s office for an initial review before being forwarded to the NCFS Headquarters during specified enrollment periods. These periods are categorized as follows: "Base Fund" and "Mountain Fund" applications will be accepted from March 1, 2025, until May 30, 2025. Meanwhile, the "Plant-Only Fund" will accept applications from September 1, 2025, until October 31, 2025.
To qualify for funding consideration, all applications must reach the NCFS Headquarters by the close of business on each respective closing date. Prompt application submission is advised as funding allocation begins immediately after each enrollment period concludes.
The demand for FDP cost share funding consistently surpasses available resources. As such, NCFS Headquarters will employ a random-draw lottery system to distribute funds. Anticipated funding includes $400,000 from the "Mountain Fund," $1.6 million from the "Base Fund," and $800,000 statewide from the "Plant-Only" Fund.
Each landowner may receive up to $10,000 in FDP cost share reimbursement per fiscal year; however, full reimbursement is not guaranteed if projects are completed under budget.
Established in 1977 and funded by an assessment on primary forest products along with state appropriations from the North Carolina Legislature, this program represents a collaboration between forest industry stakeholders, NCFS personnel, and private woodland owners. This partnership results in significant improvements and new plantings across thousands of acres of North Carolina forests annually.
For more information or to find contact details for your local NCFS county ranger’s office, visit N.C. Forest Service - Contacts | NC Agriculture.
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