The forest restoration activities associated with the oregon white OAK program will provide important jobs in projectplanning, harvesting/wildfire mitigation, trucking, and indirect jobs supporting…

Northwest Hardwoods received a $684,980 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Region 6 (Pacific Northwest Region), awarded on September 2, 2025, under the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act Financial Assistance to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts for Ecosystem Restoration program (CFDA 10.725). The grant funds critical sawmill modernization improvements at the awardee's Oregon facility to enhance processing efficiency for Oregon white oak sourced from forest restoration activities. Specific deliverables include installation of a larger motor for the sawmill's gang saw system, expanded lumber drying capability, and upgrades to the dust collection system in the sanding operation where finished lumber is processed.

These infrastructure improvements support the broader program objective of decreasing vegetation removal costs on federal lands by creating viable commercial markets for forest restoration byproducts. The project is anticipated to generate direct employment in project planning, harvesting, wildfire mitigation, and trucking operations, along with indirect jobs supporting restoration efforts. The performance period extends through June 1, 2028, allowing the awardee sufficient time to complete the facility upgrades and demonstrate quantified outcomes in production capacity and job creation consistent with program requirements.

The forest restoration activities associated with the oregon white OAK program will provide important jobs in projectplanning, harvesting/wildfire mitigation, trucking, and indirect jobs supporting these restoration efforts. Conduct changes in key areas to allow efficient processing of oregon white OAK. These areas include, the installation of a larger motor for the sawmill's gang, improved lumber drying capability and improvements to the dust collection system in the plants sanding operation, where lumber is finished.