Dear Colleagues,
The USDA Forest Service is accepting applications to the Wood Innovations Grant Program.
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.
This Request for Proposals focuses on the Wood Innovations program goals:
- Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands.
- Reduce the costs of forest management on all land types.
- Promote economic and environmental health of communities
Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Completing requirements, such as architectural and engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary for 1) commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material, and/or 2) 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
- Implementing applied research projects that engage with or involve industry partners to resolve gaps in practical knowledge that can lead to readily applied and near-term advances in the wood products or wood energy market. Note basic research will not be considered. Applied research and demonstrations projects will be considered.
- Purchase stationary wood energy equipment to create markets to support forest management
The maximum for each award is generally $250,000; 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 must contribute matching funds equal to at least 100% of the Forest Service requested funds. This means for every $1 of Federal funding requested applicants must provide at least $1 in match.
Awards under this announcement are typically 2 to 3 years in length. The agency anticipates announcing final selections in May 2022 and to execute awards in August 2022.
The Forest Service will hold an informational Pre-Application Webinar on this and another related grant opportunity on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. PT to provide information and answer questions. The link is usfs.adobeconnect.com/wood-innovations/. For audio, dial in by phone: 888-844-9904; use access code 9780832.
Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to work with their designated Regional Coordinator early in the application process to determine whether project ideas will be competitive and to improve proposal quality. Regional Coordinators may have additional tools and resources to help with your application development process.
To review application requirements, please see the Wood Innovations Grant Program request for proposals: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/q9xogiiri8wg7y1n9p9e2e6zvsinlzju
Applications are due on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)