Business and Workforce Development Grants
Forecasted
Business and Workforce Development Grants support California forest-sector businesses and training providers with wood utilization, bioenergy, and workforce projects to advance healthy, resilient forests.
Funder: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027 (Application submission)
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$3 million per business or workforce development award, with category-specific match requirements
Summary: Supports California forest-sector business capacity, wood utilization, bioenergy, and workforce training to advance healthy, resilient forests.
Key Information: Training a business’s own employees belongs under business development, not workforce development.
Description
CAL FIRE’s Wood Products and Bioenergy Program, within its Climate and Energy Program, funds business and workforce development projects that support California’s forests and the people and ecosystems that depend on them. The program seeks a robust, diversified wood products industry that enables sustainable forest management, expands forest-fuels utilization, supports reforestation, and increases workforce capacity.
Supported work includes solid wood and biomass processing, forest operations, transportation, tree nurseries, forest-derived power and biofuels, and recurring workforce training. Projects may incorporate planning, permitting, organizational capacity building, and infrastructure development. Grants are funded in part through California Climate Investments, with attention to greenhouse gas reductions, jobs, and meaningful benefits for disadvantaged and low-income populations.
