Current Forest Service Grant Opportunities
Wood Innovations Grant
2022 Applications Now Open
Deadline: January 19, 2022
The USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant Program is an annual grant supporting traditional wood utilization projects, expanding wood energy markets, and promoting wood as a construction material.
The grant supports proposals that significantly expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to address forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. The 2022 Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities:
- Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands;
- Reduce costs of forest management on all land types; and
- Promote economic and environmental health of communities
Application - Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity, Fiscal Year 2022
Community Wood Energy Grant
2022 Applications Now Open
Deadline: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
This year, the Forest Service is also offering the Community Wood Grant Program. This opportunity supports installing thermally led community wood energy system or building an innovative wood product facility. The program will focus on the following priorities:
- Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities
- Improve forest health; and
- 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. More details can be found in the Request for Proposals link.
Additional Resources
Region 5 Presentation (Download)
It is recommended that applicants consult with Regional Biomass Coordinators before submission to ensure proposals align with Forest Service Regional/Area priorities and State Forest Action Plans.
Program Background
From 2007 to 2013, this program was managed by the State and Private Forestry Technology Marketing Unit located at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI. For each of these years, approximately $4m was made available for projects that increased the utilization of woody biomass from federal lands and reduced the risk of wildfire and disease across the country. In 2012, the name was changed to the Forest Service National Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program.
More recently, in 2014, the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant was renamed the Hazardous Fuels Wood to Energy (W2E) Grant Program and administration was transferred to the US Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC). The grant is currently referred to as the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity.
The application and award schedule varies from year to year as does the funding available. For more information and up-to-date announcements visit the Wood Innovations Home.
Learn more about the types of projects funded by the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity in past years, search projects by state, or review funding allocations here.