National Forest Products Week Spotlight: USFS Wood Innovations Program

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Beginning in 1960, following a joint congressional proclamation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the third week of October has traditionally been declared National Forest Products Week. This year’s celebration is Sunday, October 20th – Saturday, October 26th.  According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National Forest Products Week “offers an opportunity to celebrate healthy forests, forest product research and economics, and the diverse array of products that come from forests across our nation.” The USFS has several activities planned, most notably an Open House at the Forest Products Lab in Madison, WI, on October 20th

We hope you join FRA in celebrating National Forest Products Week this year and encourage you to check with your state forestry association or other stakeholder groups to learn more about opportunities to celebrate the numerous contributions the forest products industry provides to our nation.

The USFS traditionally commemorates National Forest Products Week by highlighting its Wood Innovations Program Grants.  Their website describes the Wood Innovations Program grants as “investing in proposals that expand traditional wood utilization projects, promote using wood as a construction material in commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings, and expand wood energy markets. Healthy forests depend on a healthy forest products economy, and these investments support local economies while directly contributing to improving forest health and lowering wildfire risks to communities.”

Program Eligibility

  • Eligible applicants include:
  • 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)

Funding Priority

Preference will be given to proposals that:

  • Create or expand markets for wood and biomass generated by forest health and hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System and other U.S. forested land.
  • Support development of domestically sourced timber and U.S. manufacturing of mass timber and other wood products.
  • Involve wood products or wood industry partners.
  • Support commercial building markets or other markets that use innovative wood products.
  • Commit to utilizing domestically sourced timber for mass timber construction projects.
  • Bundle or address multiple wood energy or wood products projects.
  • Support, benefit, or engage communities that are historically under-served, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (pursuant to Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government).

Click Here for the full Wood Innovations Program fact sheet.

FRA has featured the Wood Innovations Program two times over the last 6 months.  Adam Smith, Wood Innovations Specialist with the USFS, spoke at FRA’s Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN on May 1st.  FRA members can access Adam’s presentation “Wood Innovations Program: Impacts and Opportunities” here

In a follow-up installment, Adam also participated in an FRA webinar on August 22nd to further educate FRA members on the successful grant program.  The USFS also offers articles that feature successfully funded Wood Innovations Program projects. Participants provide project updates and share details for several Wood Energy and Mass Timber projects funded by the program. 

Previous Year Grant Awardee Stories

As we celebrate National Forest Products Week this year, we invite you to join FRA in recognizing the many contributions of the forest products industry to our nation. Be sure to check out our social channels for exciting updates and resources throughout this important week!

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