Federal Grant Award Summary

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services received a $500,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Temporary Bridge Program (CFDA 10.721), awarded on July 2, 2026, with a completion date of July 1, 2031. This rent-to-own program funds the acquisition and deployment of temporary water crossing structures, including portable skidder bridges and bridge mats, designed to protect waterways during timber harvesting operations in North Carolina. The grant supports the establishment or expansion of a rental program that enables loggers and forest contractors to access temporary crossings for streams and wet areas while minimizing stream bed disturbance and protecting water quality.

Under this award, NCDA&CS will operate a rental program making temporary crossing infrastructure available to timber harvesting operators across North Carolina. The funding covers the purchase of portable equipment and structures that facilitate forest management activities while maintaining environmental protection standards. The rent-to-own model allows contractors to utilize temporary water crossings on both federal and non-federal lands, supporting sustainable timber operations and infrastructure development across the state over the five-year grant period.