USDA Announces $15 million to Fund Grants to Develop and Expand the Use of Wood Products

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsak, announced on Friday (5-7-21), that the USDA is awarding more than $15 million to fund grant proposals to develop and expand the use of wood products, strengthen emerging wood energy markets, and protect community forests. Delivered through the USDA Forest Service programs, the grant funding will support 60 projects that cover a diverse range of activities from the development of affordable housing to expanding markets for mass timber, biochar, wood energy, and other emerging wood products. The grants also include funds to help tribes, local governments and qualified non-profit organizations permanently conserve working forests that benefit communities. Forest Service awards will leverage an additional $30 million in matching and partner funds bringing the totals well above $45 million. The grants will be broken down into three groups: 1) Wood Innovation, 2) Community Wood, and 3) Community Forests. In remarks prepared for the announcement, Sec. Vilsak said, “To manage wildfire and address climate, we need to manage our forests. Today’s investments underpin USDA’s commitment to address the climate crisis with a market-based approach that begins to move us toward a clean energy economy, led by production of renewable fuel and energy and bio-based products grown and manufactured here in the U.S. The American Jobs Plan and USDA’s budget request for 2022 make sure the Forest Service can prioritize forest management and restoration.”