Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS COMMUNITY WOOD 2022

The 2022 Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Forest Service (CFDA 10.708) under the authority of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S. Code 8113). It is designed to push forward two closely related goals: growing the use of renewable, wood-based energy at the community scale and expanding manufacturing capacity for innovative wood products. The Forest Service frames the program around three outcomes: expanding thermally led community wood energy systems and/or innovative wood product opportunities, improving forest health, and stimulating local economies, particularly in rural or forested regions where restoration work and wood utilization can support jobs and reduce wildfire and disease risks.

The opportunity targets "shovel-ready" projects, meaning proposals are expected to be ready to build or install and able to finish within the award period without needing extra time or additional funding beyond what the applicant already has lined up. The Forest Service is looking for capital-focused projects that create tangible infrastructure or production capability. Examples include installing a thermally led community wood energy system that provides heating, cooling, and/or electricity and displaces fossil fuels like coal, fuel oil, propane, or natural gas; purchasing and installing manufacturing equipment at a mass timber facility; expanding an existing sawmill to add higher-value product lines using innovative technology and cost-saving measures; or buying and installing equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest residues. The common thread across these examples is that they increase markets for wood (including low-value or residual material), which can, in turn, support forest restoration and local employment.

Funding is limited and competitive. The Forest Service indicated it planned to award up to $5 million in total under this announcement, depending on availability. Individual awards are generally capped at $1 million and can cover up to 35 percent of a project's total capital costs. In certain cases, the agency may consider awards up to $1.5 million covering up to 50 percent of total capital costs when a proposal warrants special consideration, with an emphasis on projects located in high-unemployment areas. Even though matching funds are not required in the formal sense, the program does require leveraging. That means the applicant must bring the remainder of the project funds from non-federal sources to fully complete the project. For instance, if the request is for 35 percent of capital costs, the applicant must commit to the remaining 65 percent as leveraged funds.

The leveraging rules are a central compliance point. Leveraged funds must come from non-federal sources and must be committed within the grant timeframe. If any of the leveraged funds come from third parties, the applicant needs to include commitment letters in the proposal package that clearly confirm the amount being contributed and the commitment to provide it. While leveraged funds generally carry fewer administrative burdens than formal cost-share matches, applicants are still expected to follow the program's requirements and demonstrate that the full project financing is real, committed, and available so the project can be completed as proposed.

Eligible applicants are broad and include non-profits; local, state, and tribal governments; for-profit businesses, companies, and corporations; institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts such as public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports. The official funding opportunity number is USDA FS COMMUNITY WOOD 2022. Key dates included a creation date of October 20, 2021 and an original closing date of January 19, 2022. The Forest Service also offered a pre-application informational webinar on November 9, 2021, with call-in options and Federal Relay Service access for TDD users, and directed applicants to the Wood Innovations homepage for the request for proposals, instructions, and application materials.

  • The Forest Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2022 Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.708.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2021-10-20.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-19. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for USDA FS COMMUNITY WOOD 2022

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FAQs: 2022 Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity (USDA Forest Service)

What is the 2022 Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity?

It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Forest Service (CFDA 10.708) to advance two related goals: expanding renewable, wood-based energy at the community scale and increasing manufacturing capacity for innovative wood products. The program is issued under the authority of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S. Code 8113).

What outcomes is the Forest Service trying to achieve with this funding?

The Forest Service frames the opportunity around three outcomes: (1) expanding thermally led community wood energy systems and/or innovative wood product opportunities, (2) improving forest health, and (3) stimulating local economies, particularly in rural or forested regions where restoration work and wood utilization can support jobs and reduce wildfire and disease risks.

What kinds of projects does this program fund?

The opportunity targets capital-focused, shovel-ready projects that create tangible infrastructure or production capability related to community wood energy and/or innovative wood products. Examples described by the Forest Service include community wood energy system installations, purchases of manufacturing equipment for mass timber facilities, sawmill expansions to add higher-value product lines using innovative technologies and cost-saving measures, and equipment for facilities producing biofuels from forest residues.

What does "shovel-ready" mean for this grant?

"Shovel-ready" means the proposal is expected to be ready to build or install and able to finish within the award period. The Forest Service also signals that projects should not depend on extra time or additional funding beyond what the applicant already has lined up.

What is a "thermally led community wood energy system" in the context of this opportunity?

In this funding announcement, it refers to a community-scale wood energy system primarily designed around thermal energy needs that can provide heating and potentially cooling and/or electricity, while displacing fossil fuels such as coal, fuel oil, propane, or natural gas.

What is the connection between these projects and forest health?

The opportunity is designed to increase markets for wood, including low-value or residual material. Stronger markets for that material can support forest restoration work and reduce risks tied to wildfire and disease, which the Forest Service links to improved forest health.

How much total funding did the Forest Service plan to award under this announcement?

The Forest Service indicated it planned to award up to $5 million in total under this announcement, depending on availability.

What is the typical maximum award amount for a single project?

Individual awards are generally capped at $1 million.

What percentage of project costs can the grant cover in most cases?

In most cases, awards can cover up to 35 percent of a project's total capital costs.

Are larger awards possible under this opportunity?

Yes. In certain cases, the Forest Service may consider awards up to $1.5 million covering up to 50 percent of total capital costs when a proposal warrants special consideration. The announcement notes an emphasis on projects located in high-unemployment areas for this higher level of consideration.

Is a match required?

Matching funds are not required in the formal sense, but the program requires leveraging. Applicants must bring the remainder of the project funds from non-federal sources so the project can be fully completed.

What does "leveraging" mean for applicants?

Leveraging means the applicant must secure and commit non-federal funding to cover the portion of total capital costs not requested from the Forest Service. For example, if an applicant requests 35 percent of capital costs from the grant, the applicant must commit the remaining 65 percent as leveraged funds.

Where must leveraged funds come from?

Leveraged funds must come from non-federal sources and must be committed within the grant timeframe.

What documentation is needed if leveraged funds are coming from third parties?

If any leveraged funds come from third parties, the proposal package needs to include commitment letters that clearly confirm the amount being contributed and the commitment to provide it.

Why is leveraging a central compliance point in this program?

The Forest Service highlights leveraging as central because the project must be fully financed and able to be completed as proposed within the award period. Applicants are expected to demonstrate that the full project financing is real, committed, and available.

Who is eligible to apply?

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

Is this a U.S. Forest Service program?

Yes. The program is run by the U.S. Forest Service.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for this program is 10.708.

What is the official funding opportunity number?

The official funding opportunity number is USDA FS COMMUNITY WOOD 2022.

What were the key dates mentioned in the announcement?

The information provided includes a creation date of October 20, 2021 and an original closing date of January 19, 2022.

Was there a pre-application webinar?

Yes. The Forest Service offered a pre-application informational webinar on November 9, 2021.

Were there accessibility options for the webinar?

Yes. The webinar included call-in options and Federal Relay Service access for TDD users.

Where were applicants directed to find the request for proposals and application materials?

Applicants were directed to the Wood Innovations homepage for the request for proposals, instructions, and application materials.

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