Tuesday, November 12, 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has announced up to $34 million in funding aimed at fostering innovation, supporting job creation, and promoting sustainable practices in the forestry sector. This funding is set to strengthen the U.S. forest products economy while enhancing forest health across the nation.
Made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, this funding will be distributed through three critical Forest Service grant programs: the Wood Innovations Grant, the Community Wood Grant, and the Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grant Programs. Together, these grants aim to drive innovation, create new markets for sustainable wood products, expand renewable wood energy applications, and build processing capacity across the industry.
“Sustainably sourcing wood to manufacture products makes our forests healthier and our communities more vibrant,” stated Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, we’re making even greater investments in the wood products economy and supporting sustainable forest management, which in turn creates jobs in rural areas.”
The Forest Service is seeking proposals that advance innovative uses of sustainably sourced wood, whether in construction, renewable energy, or manufacturing. The grants will also provide direct support to expand or retrofit wood energy systems and wood products manufacturing facilities, bolstering the wood products infrastructure nationwide.
Since 2021, the Forest Service has invested nearly $190 million into 482 projects across the U.S., with $618 million in additional matching funds, creating a combined impact of over $808 million. This ongoing investment addresses critical forestry challenges, such as reducing the risk of wildfires, disease, and infestations, by expanding markets for sustainably sourced wood.
The Forest Service is inviting proposals from a wide range of eligible applicants, including private and non-profit entities, local and state governments, tribes, businesses, public utilities, conservation districts, school districts, and higher education institutions.
These investments align with the Forest Service’s 10-year strategy to tackle the wildfire crisis, particularly in high-risk areas, through projects that involve activities like prescribed fire and mechanical thinning. By sourcing wood from these risk-reducing activities, the initiative supports both forest health and community safety.
The USDA, under the Biden-Harris administration, is committed to transforming the nation’s food system by prioritising resilient, local food production, fairer markets, equitable food access, climate-smart agricultural practices, and significant rural infrastructure improvements. This latest investment in the forestry sector continues that mission, advancing sustainable practices and economic resilience in rural and tribal communities across the country.
Read more news on USDA
Get more updates on European woodworking industry through: www.woodandpanel.com
Tags: best wood magazine, forestry, job creation, USDA, wood, wood and panel, Wood industry news, Wood news and updates, woodworking, woodworking and manufacturing, woodworking industry, woodworking magazine, woodworking news
