USDA to Invest $43 Million to Further Expand the Innovative Use of Wood for Construction and Energy

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday (6-9-23) that is investing more than $43 million to expand innovative uses of wood, including as a construction material in commercial buildings, as an energy source, and in manufacturing and processing input for wood products used in framing homes, making paper products, and more.

According to the USDA press release, the funds are being invested in 123 projects nationwide through the Community Wood Grants and Wood Innovations Grants—longstanding Forest Service grant programs that promote innovation in wood products and renewable wood energy economies. Since 2015, the Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grants programs have provided more than $93 million to support 381 recipients to wood products and wood energy projects.

The investments announced today directly support the Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to address the wildfire crisis in the places where it poses the most immediate threat to communities. Healthy, resilient forests depend on a healthy forest products economy, and the Forest Service is investing in projects that source wood from activities that reduce risk to communities, like fuels treatments and mechanical thinning.