This grant will directly support the creation of a local wood utilization infrastructure providing a sustainable market for byproducts from federal land restoration activities

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region awarded $1 million to Brewer Boys LLC on January 20, 2026, under the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act Financial Assistance to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts for Ecosystem Restoration program (CFDA 10.725) to purchase and install an entire wood processing mill for local wood utilization infrastructure that will process byproducts from federal land restoration activities.

The grant supports ecosystem restoration by creating a sustainable market for wood byproducts generated through vegetation removal on high or very high priority federal lands at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect and disease infestation. The mill will be acquired as a reused piece of existing infrastructure from an equipment acquisition purveyor and installed in Missouri. The project will stimulate the rural economy, support active forest management, and create and retain rural jobs. Performance of work extends through September 30, 2027.

This work supports continued ecosystem restoration efforts and ensures long term viability for the facility. An entire mill will be purchased for this project as a reused of existing infrastructure from an equipment acquisition purveyor. The wood products infrastructure assistance program supports facilities that purchase timber and forest byproducts primarily from federal or tribal forests. This includes applications to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve facilities that purchase and process byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects from federal or tribal lands in areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect and disease. The emphasis is on areas of severe high fire or insect or disease infestation with high or very high priority for restoration. Activities include purchase and installation of wood processing equipment and wood processing system upgrades at wood products manufacturing facilities. The program stimulates rural economies, supports active forest management and creates and retains rural jobs.