Wood Innovations
The Forest Service and its partners are creating new opportunities for innovative wood products which contribute to diversified rural economies and support sustainable forest management. Innovative wood building materials and wood energy promote healthier forested landscapes for future generations in a socially, economically, and environmentally sound manner.
The goals of the Wood Innovations program are to:
- Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands;
- Reduce costs of forest management on all land types; and
- Promote economic and environmental health of communities.
Funding Opportunities
Stay up to date on all Wood Innovations funding opportunities on the national USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations website.
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity
The Wood Innovations Grants Program, launched in 2015, stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management.
Community Wood Grant Program
The Community Wood Grant Program, launched in 2020, provides funding for grants to install thermally led community wood energy systems or to build innovative wood product manufacturing facilities. The Forest Service expects renewable wood energy systems installed under this program to use the most stringent control technologies. The program places extra emphasis on assisting sawmills in economically challenged areas to retool or add advanced technology.
Nearly $34M Invested to Strengthen Wood Products Economy, Forest Sector Jobs, Sustainable Forest Management
Read the full April 6, 2023 announcement. Alaska specific highlights include:
- Alaska received four Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grants totaling nearly $2 million:
- Mentasta Traditional Council - $466,240
- Native Village of Kluti-Kaah - $181,726
- Shaan-Seet, Inc - $318,290
- The Kuskokwin Corporation - $982,524
- Alaska received funding for temporary water crossings projects totaling more than $1.1 million:
- The Port Graham Corporation - $610,018
- Koniag Regional Native Corporation - $147,500
- Louden Tribal Council - $168,000
- Shaan Seet, Inc - $175,000
General Resources
- What to do with wood residue? Find out in this Small Woodlot Owners Guide Series brochure.
Virtual Biomass Tours, Fall 2020
- TOUR 1: 10/28/20, Hydaburg, Alaska
- See the recording of this tour on YouTube and the Q&A transcript on AlaskaWoodEnergy.com
- TOUR 2: 11/18/20, Teslin, Yukon
- Contacts: Karen Petersen, biomass@seconference.org, 907-401-3234 and Ryan Hennessey, ryan.hennessey@gov.yk.ca
- TOUR 1: 10/28/20, Hydaburg, Alaska
- Wood Innovations - USDA Forest Service National Webapge
- 2022 Grant Recipients
- 2021 Grant Recipients
- 2020 Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Recipients
USDA Forest Service Announces Investments in Wood Energy and Wood Innovation (Press Release) - 2020 Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity Recipients
USDA Forest Service awards Wood Innovations Grants to reduce wildfire risk, invest in rural economies and support healthy forests (Press Release)
For more information about the Wood Innovation Program in Alaska, contact:
Priscilla Morris
Wood Biomass & Forest Stewardship Coordinator
USDA Forest Service – State & Private Forestry
161 East 1st Ave. Door 8
Anchorage, AK 99501
priscilla.morris@usda.gov
907-743-9467