Grants / Department of Agriculture / Forest Service

USDA-FS-COMMUNITY-WOOD-2022: 2022 Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity

Closed Closed January 19, 2022 Opportunity USDA-FS-COMMUNITY-WOOD-2022 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Forest Service notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$1.0 million
• Award floor$10,000
• Total funding$5.0 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligible applicants are non-profits; local, state, and tribal governments; businesses, companies, corporations (for profit); institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports.)

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program awards averaged $773,796; this notice allows up to $1.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (54% over five years) went to businesses.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility. The grants awarded under this announcement are authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S. Code § 8113) and intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. The Forest Service solicits proposals for projects that will achieve the following: 1. Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities 2. Improve forest health; and 3. 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. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: 1. Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas. 2. Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility. 3. Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures. 4. Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest residues. All awards are based on funding availability. The Forest Service plans to award up to $5 million in total awards under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment. Matching funds are not required; however, leveraging is required. Applicants must contribute the remaining funds (leveraged funds) necessary to complete the project above and beyond the requested Forest Service funding. For example, if an applicant requests Forest Service funding for 35% of the total capital costs of the project, then the applicant must commit to providing 65% of the total capital costs of the project. In this example, the 65% of the total capital costs are considered the required leveraged funds. Even though leveraged funds have a lower reporting burden and fewer legal requirements than matching funds, applicants must adhere to requirements for leveraged funds.

Category: Natural Resources.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.