Wood Innovations

Wood Innovations Program

To learn about Wood Innovations projects across the country, visit the Wood Innovations Project Search page.

News & Announcements

• USDA Invests in Wood Products to Support Local Jobs and Healthy Forests in 41 States and American Samoa as part of Investing in America agenda

Wood Innovations Grant Funding Opportunity - Application period closed December 15, 2023

The Wood Innovations Grants Program 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.  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 has closed.  The next application period is expected to open in October 2024. Contact Collin Buntrock collin.buntrock@usda.gov for more information.

• Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 91 KB)

• Recent recipients are located at Wood Grants | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

Community Wood Grant Funding Opportunity Program - Application period closed December 15, 2023

The Community Wood Grant Program 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 has closed.  The next application period is expected to open in October 2024.  Contact Sabina Dhungana sabina.dhungana@usda.gov for more information.

• Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 182 KB)

• Recent recipients are located at Wood Grants | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA) Grant Funding Opportunity - Application period closed December 1, 2023

The Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance provides funding may be used to provide support for facilities that purchase and process byproducts of ecosystem restoration projects.  This includes applications 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. Contact Adam Smith adam.smith5@usda.gov for more information.

• Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 326 KB)

• Recent recipients are located at Wood Grants | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Program (Updated July 12, 2024)

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 and up to $17.6 million is available. The program is open and available for response with rolling applications due on April 27, 2024, August 30, 2024, and December 27, 2024. Funding decisions will be made within 30 days of the due dates. For more information, please contact Jeff High at jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov. More information and recent recipients are located at Temporary Water Crossing | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

• Instructions – Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Instructions

• Application – Please contact Jeff High at jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov 

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.

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

• Progress Report

• Final Accomplishment Report

• Final Summary Report