Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS WERC 2020
The 2020 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service under CFDA 10.674 (Wood Utilization Assistance). Its central aim is to grow wood products and wood energy markets across the United States in ways that directly support forest management needs on National Forest System lands as well as other forest ownerships. The Forest Service is using this funding as a market-focused tool: by strengthening demand and infrastructure for wood (especially material coming from restoration and fuels-reduction work), the program is meant to make forest management more feasible and affordable while also creating local economic benefits.
The Forest Service frames the opportunity around three broad priorities. First, it seeks to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health, recognizing that active management often produces woody material that needs viable markets. Second, it emphasizes reducing the costs of forest management across all land types, which ties the grant to practical outcomes like improved utilization, better processing capacity, and more bankable projects that can handle restoration byproducts. Third, it highlights promoting the economic and environmental health of communities, reflecting an interest in job creation, local industry development, and the climate and sustainability benefits associated with increased wood use when it displaces more emissions-intensive materials or fuels.
The types of projects encouraged under this opportunity are oriented toward later-stage, implementation-ready work rather than early conceptual planning. A key competitive focus is on completing the requirements needed to secure financing and move projects into construction or deployment. Examples include engineering designs, detailed cost analyses, and permitting for commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material, as well as for wood energy projects that are already sufficiently advanced to be nearing the financing and execution phase. The solicitation is explicit that early-phase project development proposals are not expected to be competitive, signaling that applicants should bring mature projects that can demonstrate readiness and a clear path to tangible outcomes.
Beyond late-stage project completion tasks, the program also supports efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and the broader infrastructure needed for wood products, particularly where that capacity helps utilize material generated through forest ecosystem restoration. This can include investments and activities that strengthen supply chains, processing capability, and market channels for restoration-relevant wood products. Another eligible area is demonstration and market education through real-world commercial building showcases that quantify environmental and economic benefits of wood construction, paired with credible projections of how those benefits could scale if replicated nationally based on commercial construction trends.
The opportunity also includes place-based and capacity-building approaches. The Forest Service invites proposals to establish statewide wood utilization teams and statewide wood energy teams, but limits this category to states that do not currently have an existing (or former) team. In addition, it encourages development of clusters of wood energy projects in a defined geography or within specific sectors such as prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing, or industrial settings. Finally, it supports projects designed to overcome market barriers and stimulate expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector, reflecting an intent to move beyond one-off installations toward broader adoption.
Key administrative details are straightforward. The Request for Proposals was issued October 22, 2019, with proposals due January 15, 2020. The Forest Service anticipated notifying applicants around May 1, 2020, with awards expected around August 1, 2020. The funding opportunity number is USDA FS WERC 2020. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $250,000, and the agency expected to make about 30 awards. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement, so prospective applicants would need to consult the official guidance for the precise eligibility categories and any limitations. Application materials and instructions are provided through the Wood Innovations program home page referenced in the solicitation.Apply for USDA FS WERC 2020
- The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2020 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.674.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 15, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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2020 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity (USDA Forest Service) - FAQs
What is the 2020 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity?
The 2020 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service under CFDA 10.674 (Wood Utilization Assistance). It is designed to expand wood products and wood energy markets across the United States in ways that directly support forest management needs.
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The central goal is to grow markets for wood products and wood energy so that forest management (including restoration and fuels-reduction work) becomes more feasible and affordable, while also producing local economic benefits.
How does the Forest Service describe the strategy behind this funding?
The Forest Service presents the funding as a market-focused tool. By strengthening demand and infrastructure for wood, especially material produced from restoration and fuels-reduction activities, the program aims to improve the economics of forest management and increase utilization of that material.
Which agency and program are offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the USDA Forest Service through the Wood Innovations program, under CFDA 10.674 (Wood Utilization Assistance).
What are the three broad priorities for projects under this opportunity?
The Forest Service frames the opportunity around three priorities: (1) reducing hazardous fuels and improving forest health, (2) reducing the costs of forest management across all land types, and (3) promoting the economic and environmental health of communities.
How do projects relate to hazardous fuels reduction and forest health?
The program recognizes that active forest management often generates woody material that needs viable markets. Projects that help create or strengthen those markets can support hazardous fuels reduction and overall forest health by improving the utilization of resulting material.
What does "reducing the costs of forest management" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, it refers to practical outcomes that can make forest management more affordable, such as improved utilization, increased processing capacity, strengthened market channels, and projects that are more financeable and able to handle restoration byproducts.
How does the program aim to support communities?
The program emphasizes community economic and environmental health through goals such as job creation, local industry development, and sustainability or climate benefits associated with increased wood use, particularly when wood displaces more emissions-intensive materials or fuels.
What types of projects are encouraged?
The solicitation emphasizes later-stage, implementation-ready projects rather than early conceptual planning. A key competitive focus is on completing requirements needed to secure financing and move projects into construction or deployment.
Are early-stage or conceptual project development proposals competitive?
The solicitation explicitly indicates that early-phase project development proposals are not expected to be competitive. Applicants are expected to bring mature projects that demonstrate readiness and a clear path to tangible outcomes.
What kinds of late-stage activities are specifically mentioned as examples?
Examples include engineering designs, detailed cost analyses, and permitting for commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material, as well as wood energy projects that are sufficiently advanced and nearing the financing and execution phase.
Does the program support commercial building projects that use wood?
Yes. The opportunity includes support for certain pre-construction and readiness activities (such as engineering, cost analysis, and permitting) for commercial construction projects where wood is a primary building material, particularly when the project is close to financing and execution.
Does the program support wood energy projects?
Yes. The program supports wood energy projects that are advanced enough to be nearing the financing and execution phase, along with other approaches meant to expand wood energy adoption and overcome market barriers.
Can the funding be used to expand manufacturing capacity or supply chain infrastructure?
Yes. The opportunity supports efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and the infrastructure needed for wood products, especially where that capacity helps utilize material generated through forest ecosystem restoration.
What does "restoration-relevant" wood material mean in the context of the opportunity?
The solicitation highlights material coming from restoration and fuels-reduction work. The program is particularly interested in strengthening markets and infrastructure that can utilize woody material produced from forest ecosystem restoration activities.
Are demonstration and market education projects eligible?
Yes. The program supports demonstration and market education through real-world commercial building showcases that quantify environmental and economic benefits of wood construction, paired with credible projections of how those benefits could scale nationally if replicated.
What is meant by "statewide wood utilization teams" and who can propose them?
The Forest Service invites proposals to establish statewide wood utilization teams, but limits this category to states that do not currently have an existing (or former) team.
What is meant by "statewide wood energy teams" and who can propose them?
The Forest Service invites proposals to establish statewide wood energy teams, but this is limited to states that do not have an existing (or former) team.
What are "clusters of wood energy projects" in this solicitation?
The opportunity encourages development of clusters of wood energy projects in a defined geography or within specific sectors. The goal is to support broader adoption beyond single, isolated projects.
Which sectors are specifically mentioned as potential targets for wood energy clusters?
The solicitation mentions sectors such as prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing, and industrial settings as examples where clustered wood energy development could be pursued.
Does the program support projects aimed at overcoming market barriers for wood energy?
Yes. It supports projects designed to overcome market barriers and stimulate expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector, reflecting an intent to encourage wider adoption rather than one-off installations.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA FS WERC 2020.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number is 10.674 (Wood Utilization Assistance).
When was the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued?
The RFP was issued on October 22, 2019.
What was the proposal deadline?
Proposals were due January 15, 2020.
When were applicants expected to be notified?
The Forest Service anticipated notifying applicants around May 1, 2020.
When were awards expected to be made?
Awards were expected around August 1, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $250,000.
How many awards were expected?
The agency expected to make about 30 awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement. Applicants would need to consult the official guidance for the precise eligibility categories and any limitations.
Where can applicants find application materials and instructions?
Application materials and instructions are provided through the Wood Innovations program home page referenced in the solicitation.
What kind of readiness is implied for competitive proposals?
The solicitation suggests competitive proposals are those that are close to financing and deployment, with clear steps and deliverables such as engineering, cost analysis, and permitting that position the project for construction or implementation.
How does the program connect wood markets to forest management needs?
By boosting demand and improving infrastructure for wood utilization, particularly for material produced during restoration and fuels reduction, the program aims to create viable outlets for that material. This supports management work on National Forest System lands as well as other forest ownerships.
Does the opportunity apply only to National Forest System lands?
No. While it directly supports forest management needs on National Forest System lands, it is also intended to support other forest ownerships as described in the opportunity summary.
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