Wood Innovations
This searchable directory can help you make connections to state and national assistance.
The USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Program expands and creates markets for wood products and wood energy that support long-term, sustainable management of National Forest System lands and other forest lands.
The USDA Forest Service is catalyzing the growth of the mass timber industry. In the U.S., 600 mass timber projects have been built and 10 manufacturing plants are operating.
The Forest Service supports state-wide wood energy and utilization teams through the Wood Innovations grant program.
Working to support market-based forest restoration, team members are from the Washington Office, Regions and the Forest Products Laboratory.
Wood Innovations Program
To learn about Wood Innovations projects across the country, visit the Wood Innovations Project Search page.
NEWS RELEASE: USDA Forest Service Accepting Grant Applications for Wood Innovations Projects, Community Wood Energy Facilities
(NEW) 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. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is 5:00 pm local time on March 23, 2023. Applicants should expect to receive a confirmation email from their Regional Coordinator after submitting an application.
- Wood Innovations Application Instructions (amended 2/10/2023)
- Wood Innovations Application
- Wood Innovations Application Webinar
- Presentation from Application Webinar
- Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov
(NEW) 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. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is 5:00 pm local time on March 23, 2023. Applicants should expect to receive a confirmation email from their Regional Coordinator after submitting an application.
- Community Wood Application Instructions
- Community Wood Application
- Community Wood Application Webinar
- Presentation from Application Webinar
- Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov
(UPDATED) Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Program
The intent of this funding opportunity is to support the establishment of temporary bridge rental/loan/cost-share programs with States and federally recognized Indian Tribes to protect water resources and reduce water quality degradation during forestry-related operations. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The deadline to apply for financial assistance has been extended to 5:00 pm local time on January 31, 2023.
- Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Program Application Instructions
- Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Application
- Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov
Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts of Ecosystem Restoration Projects
Project funding may be used to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility in close proximity to federal or Indian lands that need ecosystem restoration and will generate byproducts. The emphasis is on areas of unnaturally severe high fire or insect or disease infestation with high or very high priority for ecological restoration. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The next application period will be in Fall 2023.
Success Stories
Wood Innovations Grants are making a difference across the country. From funding for advanced computer numerical control systems that can produce state-of-the-art prefabricated mass timber building materials, to renewable energy systems that run on wood chips, these grants are helping address critical issues like climate change and helping sustain local economies.
Success stories include
- TimberLab and Fire-Safe CLT Exterior Walls (PDF, 2.34 MB)
- The University of Arkansas Vision Grows Mass Timber Influence (PDF, 1.29 MB)
- Fire Tests Lead to Code Changes Supporting Visible Mass Timber Use in Tall Buildings (PDF, 720 KB)
- Blue Forest - Fighting Fire with Finance (PDF, 1.26 MB)
- Blue Mountain Lumber Products Mill Upgrades Benefit Forest Restoration (PDF, 1.87 MB
- Northern Forests to Timber Cities: Connecting Dense Cities to Healthy Forests (PDF, 1.57 MB)
- Wood Energy Heats Up Alaska (PDF, 1.84 MB)
- CNC Machines Putting Mass Timber on the Cutting Edge (PDF, 1.89 MB)
- America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell Celebrates the Importance of U.S. Forests (PDF, 1.96 MB)
- Woody Biomass Heating System Continues to Warm Students and Staff at Holderness (PDF, 2.53 MB)
- Building a Worldwide Market for End Grain Wood from National Forest Service Lands (PDF, 1.84 MB)
- University of Idaho Arena Charts a Future for Mass Timber(PDF, 2.31 MB)
- Biochar Initiative Sweeping Across the Great Plains (PDF, 2.58 MB)
- U.S Biochar Initiative Is Building a Sustainable Future from the Soil Up (PDF, 2.55 MB)
- WoodWorks Makes It Easier to Design, Engineer, and Construct Commercial and Multifamily Wood Buildings (PDF, 1.52 MB)
- Mass Timber Showcased in New Nez Perce Clearwater Forest Supervisor’s Office (PDF, 2.35 MB)
- Clemson University’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute (WU+D) (PDF, 3.52 MB)
- Wood Innovations Team (PDF, 1.71 MB)
- National Wood Energy Technical Assistance Team (PDF, 1.71 MB)
- Ampine Sustainable Particleboard Reduces Wildfire Risk (PDF, 1.38 MB)
- Menominee Tribal Enterprises Increases Energy Independence and Reduces Carbon Footprint (PDF, 1.34 MB)
- Gundersen Health System: Saving Energy and Breathing Easier (PDF, 1.53 MB)
Building with Wood
The Forest Service is revolutionizing the United States building sector by supporting the introduction of mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT). By building stronger markets for innovative new wood products, we are supporting sustainable forest management, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and putting rural America at the forefront of an emerging industry.
- New building codes and 11 U.S. manufacturing facilities are operational to supply cross-laminated timber (CLT) and mass plywood for institutional, commercial, and multi-family wood buildings.
- Over 1,000 buildings have been constructed or are in design with mass timber. 289,000 architects, engineers and developers have been trained in wood structural design and mass timber construction.
- Foundational Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have been established to measure environmental benefits of wood construction as documented in the Wood Handbook.
Renewable Wood Energy
The Forest Service is committed to expanding renewable energy by promoting the use of ‘wood waste’ or ‘wood residues’ across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Wood energy creates local jobs in rural and urban areas along each stage of the supply chain. Above all, wood energy supports sustainable forest management, which helps reduce damage caused by uncharacteristic wildfires, insects, disease, and invasive species.
- Wood energy can take many forms in both solid and liquid forms. Solid wood is often used to provide chips and pellets for heat, combined heat and power or electricity. Wood can also be used to produce liquid biofuels and biochemicals.
Project Report Templates