Wood innovations grant program supports projects that will substantially expand and accelerate wood products markets, wood energy markets, and wood manufacturing facilities throughout the united…

Vaagen Bros. Lumber, Inc. received a $600,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region under the Wood Utilization Assistance program (CFDA 10.674), awarded on September 12, 2025, with a completion date of August 31, 2027. The grant supports the installation of wood processing equipment at the company's Colville, Washington sawmill facility, consistent with the Wood Innovations program's focus on expanding domestic wood products markets and supporting active forest management. This capital investment aligns with the program's emphasis on developing wood processing infrastructure that utilizes low-value wood and forest residues to support wildfire fuel reduction and sustainable forestry practices in the Pacific Northwest region.

The project contributes to the broader Wood Innovations initiative by strengthening the forest products industry and stimulating rural economic development in Washington. As a continuation of Vaagen Bros. Lumber's existing participation in Forest Service stewardship activities, this grant supports the company's capacity to process forest materials more efficiently, thereby enabling greater utilization of timber resources from National Forest System lands and private forestlands throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Wood innovations grant program supports projects that will substantially expand and accelerate wood products markets, wood energy markets, and wood manufacturing facilities throughout the united states to support active forest management on national forest system and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, wood energy, and technological development that supports active forest management and wildfire fuel reduction. Activities to be funded include, but are not limited to, costs associated with the purchase and installation of wood processing equipment, wood energy system or wood manufacturing facility design and/or engineering, and deliverables to overcome key hurdles to domestic timber market growth. The program stimulates rural economies, supports active forest management and creates and retains rural jobs.