Deadline: 23-Mar-23
The USDA Forest Service is announcing the availability of funding to support projects that will substantially expand and accelerate wood products and wood energy markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands.
The intent of the Wood Innovations funding opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands.
Goals
This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to:
- Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forestlands.
- Reduce costs of forest management on all land types.
- Promote economic and environmental health of communities.
Funding Priorities
Preference will be given to proposals that:
- Create or expand markets for wood and biomass generated by forest health and hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System and other U.S. forested lands.
- Support development of domestically sourced timber and U.S. manufacturing of mass timber and other wood products.
- Involve wood products or wood industry partners.
- Support commercial building markets or other markets that use innovative wood products.
- Bundle or address multiple wood energy or wood products projects.
- Commit to utilizing domestically sourced timber for mass timber construction projects.
- 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 $24 million under this announcement, dependent on the FY 2023 Forest Service budget appropriation. The maximum for each award is generally $300,000; however, the Forest Service may consider awarding more to a proposal that demonstrates the ability to have a significant and sizeable impact on wood product or energy markets. Applicants should consult with regional contacts before requesting more than $300,000. All awards are based on funding availability.
- Awards under this announcement are typically 2 to 3 years in length. Projects of greater complexity may be awarded for a longer period of time, not to exceed 5 years.
Eligible Innovative Projects
Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Completing requirements, such as architectural and engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary for:
- commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material, and/or
- wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals and feasibility studies will not be competitive.
- Establishing or increasing wood products manufacturing capacity and/or markets that support forest ecosystem restoration.
- Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in a constructed commercial building to increase acceptance and encourage growth in the construction industry.
- Establishing statewide wood utilization teams or statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing or former team will be considered.
- Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector; or installing a wood energy system at a facility (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing, or industrial sector) that will use forest woody biomass or forest products manufacturing residues.
- Developing commercial woody biomass and wood product utilization industrial parks.
- Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the institutional, commercial, or industrial sectors.
- Purchase stationary wood energy equipment, sawmill equipment, or other wood products equipment to create markets to support forest management.
- Stationary wood energy system rated greater than 5 Megawatts in thermal output.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants are for-profit entities; state, and local governments; Indian Tribes; school districts; community, not-for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports).
For more information, visit Grants.gov.