This EDA investment supports the oregon mass timber coalition, led by the port of portland, with modernizing and boosting the forest products industry in oregon by becoming a national leader in…

The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration awarded a $3.8 million Project Grant to the Port of Portland under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA 11.307) to support the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition's efforts to modernize and boost Oregon's forest products industry. The Coalition, led by the Port of Portland, will work with forest-dependent rural communities to grow access to wood fiber and facilitate a workforce development program for wood-based products. Resources will also be provided to university research and development programs conducting design and prototyping of new construction materials. Additionally, state agencies will receive assistance in creating a favorable regulatory framework to accommodate modular mass timber homes in rural and wildlife-impacted communities. Once implemented, this investment is expected to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally in mass timber and affordable housing. The two-year period of performance for this award is from September 2022 through September 2024.

This EDA investment supports the oregon mass timber coalition, led by the port of portland, with modernizing and boosting the forest products industry in oregon by becoming a national leader in using mass timber to accelerate affordable housing production, provide good jobs, and restore forest health. The projects funded as part of this award include working with forest-dependent rural communities to grow access to wood fiber, facilitate a wood-based products workforce development program, provide resources to university r & d programs conducting design and prototyping of new construction materials, and assist state agencies in creating a favorable regulatory framework to accommodate modular mass timber homes in rural and wildlife-impacted communities. Once implemented, the investment will help develop and strengthen regional industry clusters - all while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. Competitiveness globally.