USDA Forest Service Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program

FUNDING PROGRAM: USDA Forest Service Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA USDA-FS-COMMUNITY-WOOD-2025.

FUNDING AGENCIES: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

OPPORTUNITY:

The intent of the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Grant Program (referred to as the “Community Wood Grant Program”) is to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products’ manufacturing capacity.

DESCRIPTION:

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 Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following:

• Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities
• Improve Forest health
• Stimulate local economies

This funding opportunity is intended for shovel-ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas
• Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility
• Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures
• Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest residues.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: 

• Non -profit entities
• State, Local, and Tribal governments
• Businesses, companies, corporations (for profit)
• Institutions of higher education
• Special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts and ports)

COST SHARING/MATCHING FUNDS: Matching funds are not required; however, leveraging is required.

FUNDING AVAILABLE: 

$6 million. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment.

APPLICATION DEADLINE(S): December 18, 2024.