Page 19 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Third Quarter 2024

MEMBER RESOURCES
Jackson Paper in Sylva, NC received a 2021 Community Wood grant to rebuild their biomass boiler.
Wood Innovation Grants – Opening Soon!
The USDA Forest Service will open three competitive grant programs for applications this fall. The grant programs specifically focus on improving forest management, supporting and expanding the primary
wood processing industry, and creating jobs and providing economic benefits to forest-dependent communities, especially underserved communities.*
THE THREE GRANT PROGRAMS ARE:
1| Wood Innovations – up to $300,000 available, requires a 1:1 dollar match of non-federal funds. Many types of projects are eligible, with the goal of stimulating, expanding, and
supporting wood products and wood energy markets.
2| Community Wood – up to $1 million available, requires an approximately 1:2 (federal to non-federal) dollar match.
Thermally led wood energy and innovative wood products applications are eligible; shovel-ready projects to build or expand facilities are most competitive.
3| Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance – up to
$1 million available, no match required but preference
given to projects showing at least 4:1 (federal to non-federal) dollar match. Supports new primary wood processing facilities and upgrades/expansions with an intent to support federal forest restoration. Substantial amounts of wood feedstock must come from federal or tribal lands at risk of wildfire or insect/ disease infestation.
American Wood Fibers in Laurinburg, NC received a 2022 Community Wood grant to expand their pellet production facility to include a wood flour line.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, including
a database of previously funded grants, please scan the QR code to visit the Wood Innovations website.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING,
the grant application and instruction documents will be available on the Wood Innovations website beginning on October 21, 2024 (the start of National Forest Products Week). You can also reach out to the Wood Innovations team with questions, to review previous years’ application documents, and to receive guidance on project ideas:
Marcus Taylor (marcus.taylor@usda.gov) – primary contact for NC proposals
Jaime Hernandez (jaime.hernandez@usda.gov)
* SEE EXECUTIVE ORDER 13985
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
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