Deadline: 18-Dec-24
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service is pleased to announce its Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program.
The Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program supports facilities that purchase and process byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects in areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect or disease infestation:
- The intent is to substantially decrease the cost of conducting restoration projects involving vegetation removal on federal and Tribal lands and invest in surrounding communities.
- These ecosystem restoration byproducts could include trees and woody biomass harvested through timber sales, thinning, hazardous fuels reduction treatments, or other restoration management activities.
- Funding is available to support entities seeking to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility that will utilize the byproducts from projects on federal land, Tribal forestland, and Tribal rangeland.
Priorities
- The facility must procure high percentages (approximately 50% or greater) of raw materials from Federal or Tribal lands.
- Federal or Tribal land sources of feedstock have been identified as at risk for fire, insect, or disease and a high priority for ecological restoration.
- The project facility must be in close proximity to the Federal or Tribal lands from which byproducts are procured.
Funding Information
- Total available funding will be up to: $20,000,000.
- Maximum financial assistance request: $1,000,000.
- Minimum financial assistance request: $50,000.
Eligible Activities
- Project funding may be used for personnel (salary and fringe benefits), travel, equipment, supplies, contractual costs, and appropriate other expenses associated with projects to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility in close proximity to federal or Tribal lands that need ecosystem restoration and will generate byproducts from the restoration activities:
- Requested funding and cooperator match must be utilized directly for the implementation of the proposed project.
- USDA Forest Service funds cannot be used to fund federal involvement in the project.
- Questions regarding costs should be directed to a Regional Wood Innovations Coordinator.
Eligibility Criteria
- For-profit entities; state, local governments; Indian Tribes; school districts; communities, not-for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports).
- Indian Tribe (or Federally recognized Indian Tribe) includes: Any Indian Tribe, Band, Nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Chapter 33), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (25 U.S.C. 450b (e)). This also includes California Rancherias.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.