North Raleigh Today

Landowners in North Carolina interested in 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 supports landowners in implementing forest stand improvement, site preparation, and tree-planting practices. Applications must first be submitted to the local NCFS county ranger’s office for review before being forwarded to NCFS Headquarters during specified enrollment periods.

The enrollment periods are as follows:

- The "Base Fund" and "Mountain Fund" enrollment periods begin on March 1, 2025, and close on May 30, 2025.

- The "Plant-Only Fund" enrollment period starts on September 1, 2025, and ends on October 31, 2025.

To qualify for funding consideration, applications must reach the NCFS Headquarters by the end of business hours on each closing date. Landowners are advised to apply promptly as funding allocation will commence immediately after each enrollment period concludes.

The demand for FDP cost share funding exceeds available resources significantly. As such, the NCFS Headquarters will continue using a random-draw lottery system to allocate funds. Available funds include $400,000 from the “Mountain Fund,” $1.6 million from the “Base Fund,” and $800,000 from statewide “Plant-Only” funding.

Landowners can receive up to $10,000 in FDP cost share reimbursement per fiscal year; however, full reimbursement is not guaranteed if projects come under budget.

Established in 1977, the FDP is funded through an assessment on primary forest products along with state appropriations provided by the North Carolina Legislature. This collaboration among forest industry stakeholders helps improve and plant thousands of acres of forests annually in North Carolina.

For contact information regarding your local NCFS county ranger’s office, visit N.C. Forest Service - Contacts | NC Agriculture.