For-profit entities, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, school districts, communities, not-for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports)
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. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is 5:00PM local time on December 18, 2024. Contact Adam Smith adam.smith5@usda.gov for more information.
The USDA Forest Service is announcing the availability of $20 million to provide financial assistance to facilities that purchase and process byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects in areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect or disease infestation through funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The intent is to substantially decrease the cost of conducting restoration projects involving vegetation removal on federal and Tribal lands and invest in surrounding communities. These ecosystem restoration byproducts could include trees and woody biomass harvested through timber sales, thinning, hazardous fuels reduction treatments, or other restoration management activities.
Funding priority will be to provide financial assistance to an entity seeking to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility that will utilize the byproducts from projects on federal land, Tribal forestland, and Tribal rangeland that have been identified as at risk for fire, insect, or disease and a high priority for ecological restoration. To be eligible for funding, the project facility must be in close proximity to federal or Tribal lands and procure significant percentages (approximately 50% or greater) of raw materials from federal or Tribal lands. Successful applicants will address how financial support will enable increased utilization of byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects on federal or Tribal lands that are in close proximity to a wood products processing facility and how this assistance will help reduce restoration costs.
The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 (11/15/2021), Sec. 40804(b)3.
There is no requirement for financial match. There is a preference for projects to provide at least 25% match. Any proposed match must be directly associated with the completion of the proposed project activities.
**Match is waived for tribal applications and projects demonstrating significant benefit for disadvantaged communities.**