The special funding is for more than 175 projects around the country that promote innovation.
The $105.5 million in wood innovation grants recognize 177 projects that “support active management of national forests and grasslands, promote wood and energy infrastructure by increasing manufacturing capacity and operational efficiencies and support rural economic prosperity and jobs,” the Forest Service said. “The greatest threat to forest landowners and those who use forests is the lack of critical markets in today’s timber and wood products industries,” said US Forest Service chief Tom Schultz. “There are significant gaps where low-value wood, small-diameter trees and restoration byproducts lack viable buyers. “To close these gaps, we are investing in companies and organizations that are developing technologies, products, business models and training to expand and strengthen markets directly connected to forest restoration. Over time,” he added, “this will help create new uses for underused materials, strengthen rural economies, improve forest health and make forest management more financially sustainable.” Included in the grants were $57 million for 41 wood products infrastructure assistance projects across 44 states; $31 million for 116 innovation projects; and $17 million for 23 community wood projects.
The full list of individual grants can be seen at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/energy-forest-products/wood-innovation/grants.
