USDA Announces Southern Region Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grants Recipients

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday (6-10-22) more than $32 million to fund the 2022 Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grants.

Strengthened by a $12 million infusion from the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants hope to expand the use of wood products, expand emerging wood markets, and support active management that will improve forest health and resiliency.

In the Southern Region, fourteen grants were awarded. Thirteen wood innovation grants will assist in projects such as the expansion of biochar markets in Virginia and the mass timber reconstruction of a high-profile building at Clemson University. The fourteenth grant is a $1 million community wood grant to Laurinburg, N.C., which will build upon integrated wood by-products value added system.

In addition to the $32 million from the USDA Forest Service, the wood innovations and community wood grant programs leverage $93 million in partner funds, bringing the total to more than $125 million for 99 projects.

Speaking about the grants, Regional Forester Ken Arney said, “We’re excited the grants include funds to help Tribes, state and local governments, and qualified non-profit organizations. The funds aid forest markets that are critical to us all as we work to develop and maintain healthy, resilient, and productive forests.”

A complete list of grants is available on the Forest Service Wood Innovations Program website.