Deadline: 18-Dec-24
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has announced the availability of Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build or expand an innovative wood product facility.
This grant program supports forest health and stimulates local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. The intent of the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Grant Program (referred to as Community Wood Grant Program) is to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. The Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following:
- Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities.
- Improve forest health.
- Reduce the costs of forest management on all land types.
- Stimulate local economies.
Priorities
- Priority will be given to projects that:
- Are located where markets are needed for low-value or low-quality wood.
- Are located where the project will aid forest restoration.
- Use or retrofit existing sawmill facilities located in areas where the average annual unemployment rate exceeded the national average unemployment rate by more than one percent in calendar year 2023.
- Use the most stringent control technology that has been required or achieved in practice for a wood-fired boiler and will operate in a location with limited access to natural gas pipelines.
- Support, benefit, or engage communities that are historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (pursuant to Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government).
Funding Information
- The Forest Service plans to award up to $6 million in total awards under this announcement.
- The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs.
- The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment.
- Awards under this announcement are typically 2 to 3 years in length. Projects of greater complexity may be awarded for a longer period not to exceed 5 years.
Eligible Projects
- Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas.
- Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility.
- Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures.
- Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest Residues.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are non-profits; local, state, and tribal governments; businesses, companies, corporations (for profit); institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports.)
For more information, visit Grants.gov.