USDA Wood Innovations Grant Program (United States)

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 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.

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.
  • Demonstrate how the project will reduce land management costs.
  • Bundle or address multiple wood energy or wood products projects.
  • Commit to utilizing domestically sourced timber for mass timber construction projects.

Funding Information

• The Forest Service plans to award up to $8 million under this announcement from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Additional funds from annual agency appropriations will be subject to availability. Funding is provided as a cost reimbursement. The maximum for each award is generally $300,000; however, the Forest Service may consider awarding up to $500,000 to a proposal that demonstrates the ability to have a significant and sizeable impact on wood product or energy markets.
• Wood Innovations funding of up to $1,000,000 is available for a stationary wood energy system rated greater than 5 Megawatts in thermal output if it meets one of the following criteria:
  • A thermal energy system that converts 50% or more of the input energy to useful thermal energy; or
  • A thermally led combined heat and power system that produces electricity in addition to useful thermal energy. Thermally led means that the production of useful thermal energy determines the amount of electricity produced and the system must convert 50% or more of the input energy to useful energy (generated useful thermal energy and electricity).
• Duration: 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:
  • 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.
  • 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 systems 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.