USDA Announces $13 Million in New Funding for Grant Programs to Support Market Innovation in Wood Products and Wood Energy

During the “Leaders for the Built Environment” virtual event and kick off of National Forest Products Week on Tuesday (10-19-21), U.S. Deputy of Agriculture Secretary Jewel Bronaugh announced approximately $13 million in new funding opportunities to support market innovation in wood products and wood energy.

Organized by the Forest Service, Dovetail Partners, WoodWorks and the Softwood Lumber Board, the event aimed to challenge senior leaders from companies in attendance — like Walmart and Microsoft — to explore how mass timber construction can support their climate and sustainability goals. The application period for both grant programs close on January 19, 2022.

Deputy Secretary Bronaugh noted that, “The Wood Innovations Grant program has a long track record of success and strengthens and accelerates emerging markets for innovative wood products like mass timber and cross-laminated timber. Healthy and productive markets for wood products and wood energy are integral to supporting sustainable forest management and improving the condition of our national forests.”

The Community Wood Grant Program helps fund the costs of installing wood energy systems or building innovative wood product facilities. Grants awarded under the Wood Innovations Program address the nationwide challenge of reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, disease, and pest infestations by retaining or by expanding existing markets for excess biomass and low-value logs removed during forest management activities.

The material removed supports both new and traditional markets, as well as local economic development. The removed material also reduces carbon emissions that would otherwise result from the open-air burning of excess or low-value biomass.

Since 2015, the Community Wood and Wood Innovation grant programs have provided more than $62 million to 288 recipients to support wood products and wood energy projects.