Wood Innovations

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The USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Program expands and creates markets for wood products and wood energy that support long-term, sustainable management of National Forest System lands and other forest lands.

The USDA Forest Service is catalyzing the growth of the mass timber industry. In the U.S., 600 mass timber projects have been built and 10 manufacturing plants are operating.

The Forest Service supports state-wide wood energy and utilization teams through the Wood Innovations grant program.

Working to support market-based forest restoration, team members are from the Washington Office, Regions and the Forest Products Laboratory.

To learn about Wood Innovations projects across the country, visit the Wood Innovations Project Search page.

NEWS RELEASE: Biden-Harris Administration invests nearly $34M to strengthen wood products economy, forest sector jobs, sustainable forest management

Project funding may be used to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility in close proximity to federal or Indian lands that need ecosystem restoration and will generate byproducts. The emphasis is on areas of unnaturally severe high fire or insect or disease infestation with high or very high priority for ecological restoration. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The next application period will be in Fall 2023.

For more information on the 4/6/2023 grant funding announcement, visit the Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grants web page.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to support the establishment of temporary bridge rental/loan/cost-share programs with States and federally recognized Indian Tribes to protect water resources and reduce water quality degradation during forestry-related operations. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A rolling application period will be initiated for future funding.

For more information on the 4/6/2023 grant funding announcement, visit the Temporary Water Crossing web page.

The Wood Innovations Grants Program, launched in 2015, stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management. The Notice of Funding Opportunity closed on March 23, 2023. The next application period will be in Fall 2023.

The Community Wood Grant Program, launched in 2020, provides funding for grants to install thermally led community wood energy systems or to build innovative wood product manufacturing facilities. The Forest Service expects renewable wood energy systems installed under this program to use the most stringent control technologies. The program places extra emphasis on assisting sawmills in economically challenged areas to retool or add advanced technology. The Notice of Funding Opportunity closed on March 23, 2023. The next application period will be in Fall 2023.

Wood Innovations Grants are making a difference across the country. From funding for advanced computer numerical control systems that can produce state-of-the-art prefabricated mass timber building materials, to renewable energy systems that run on wood chips, these grants are helping address critical issues like climate change and helping sustain local economies.

Success stories include

The Forest Service is revolutionizing the United States building sector by supporting the introduction of mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT). By building stronger markets for innovative new wood products, we are supporting sustainable forest management, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and putting rural America at the forefront of an emerging industry.

The Forest Service is committed to expanding renewable energy by promoting the use of ‘wood waste’ or ‘wood residues’ across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Wood energy creates local jobs in rural and urban areas along each stage of the supply chain. Above all, wood energy supports sustainable forest management, which helps reduce damage caused by uncharacteristic wildfires, insects, disease, and invasive species.

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