2025 Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program

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Description

The USDA Forest Service’s 2025 Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program offers $20 million in funding to support facilities that purchase and process byproducts generated from ecosystem restoration projects. These projects focus on areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire, insect infestation, or disease on federal and Tribal lands. The program aims to reduce the cost of restoration activities involving vegetation removal and to stimulate economic investment in surrounding communities.

Eligible projects include establishing, reopening, retrofitting, expanding, or improving sawmills or other wood-processing facilities that utilize byproducts such as trees and woody biomass harvested through timber sales, thinning, hazardous fuels reduction, or other restoration management activities. Facilities must be located in close proximity to federal or Tribal lands and procure approximately 50% or more of their raw materials from these lands.

Successful applicants must demonstrate how the funding will increase utilization of restoration byproducts, reduce restoration costs, and support sustainable forest management. This program is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Sec. 40804(b)3).

Due Dates

• April 27, 2024 (Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity - rolling)
• August 30, 2024 (Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity - rolling)
• December 27, 2024 (Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity - rolling)

Note: The main Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program application period for 2024/25 is currently closed; check with the Forest Service for updates on future cycles.

Funding Amount

• Total funding available: $20 million
• Typical award size: Up to $1 million per project
• Funding supports capital investments such as facility establishment, reopening, retrofitting, expansion, or improvement.

Eligibility

• Entities seeking to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve sawmills or wood-processing facilities.
• Facilities must be in close proximity to federal or Tribal lands identified as high risk for wildfire, insect, or disease infestation.
• Facilities must procure approximately 50% or more of raw materials from federal or Tribal lands.
• Projects must focus on utilizing byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects on federal or Tribal lands.

Application Process

• Contact the appropriate regional coordinator or program contact for guidance and application details.
• For the Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program, contact Adam Smith at adam.smith5@usda.gov.
• For Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity, contact Jeff High at jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov.
• Applications for Temporary Bridge Funding are accepted on a rolling basis with specified due dates.
• Visit the Wood Innovations Program page for more information and application resources.

Additional Information

• The program supports sustainable forest management by promoting the use of wood byproducts from restoration projects, which helps reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.
• The funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and aims to stimulate local economies by investing in wood products infrastructure.
• The Forest Service also offers related grant programs such as the Wood Innovations Grant Program and the Community Wood Grant Program, which focus on wood products markets and renewable wood energy systems.
• Success stories and project examples are available on the Forest Service website, illustrating the impact of these grants on forest health and local economies.

External Links

• USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Program
• Wood Innovations Grants and Recent Recipients
• Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity Instructions
• Temporary Water Crossing Program
• Wood Innovations Project Search

Contact Information