USDA Forest Service Awards $15 Million in Grants to Expand the Use Of Wood Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service recently announced the awarding of more than $15 million to fund 60 projects. The grants were provided to help in the development and expansion in the use of wood products, strengthen emerging wood energy markets, and protect community forests. In addition to the Forest Service grants, there are an additional $30 million in matching and partner funds bringing the totals above $45 million. The funding falls into two programs: Wood Innovations Grants and Community Wood Grants.

In a statement prepared to coincide with the grant announcements, USDA Secretary Vilsack said, “To manage wildfire and address climate, we need to manage our forests. Today’s investments underpin USDA’s commitment to addressing 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.”

A list of grant recipients and their projects are included in the full article.