The USDA Forest Service is announcing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to provide financial assistance to facilities that procure and process byproducts (timber and biomass) generated from ecosystem restoration/forest management projects in areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect or disease infestation. The intent of this funding is to substantially decrease the cost (increase revenue) of restoration/forest management projects on federal and Tribal lands through targeted facility investment outcomes that increase market opportunities and value of byproducts (timber and biomass) produced from these projects.
Funding priority for financial assistance is to entities seeking to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing or energy facility that utilizes byproducts (timber and biomass) generated from projects (i.e. timber sales, stewardship contracts, or stewardship agreements) on federal or Tribal lands identified as at risk for fire, insect, or disease and a high priority for ecological restoration. To be eligible for funding, the project facility must be in close proximity to and procure a substantial quantity (approximately 50%) of raw materials from federal or Tribal lands. Successful applicants will describe how facility investment outcomes will reduce the cost (increase revenue) of ecological restoration/land management projects on Federal or Tribal lands through market opportunities for restoration byproducts (timber and biomass) generated by these projects.
**NOTE: The link to the National Insect and Disease Risk Map in the Application Form is now working correctly. Check the box "I wish to proceed to the 2012 data" to see the correct map. Recommend to revisit if you used a map that did not show "Proportion of Treed Area at Risk by Watershed" after turning on the legend.