2026 Wood Innovations Grant Funding Opportunity
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-FS-WOOD-INNOVATIONS-2026
- Agency
-
Forest Service
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $300,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 10.674 Wood Utilization Assistance
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Natural Resources
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The USDA Forest Service is seeking proposals to expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs and reduce wildfire risk. Eligible applicants include for-profit entities, state and local governments, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and special purpose districts, all of which must register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. Key objectives focus on reducing wildfire risk and improving forest health on National Forest System lands, reducing forest management costs, and promoting economic and environmental health of communities through projects such as completing engineering designs and permitting for advanced-stage commercial wood construction projects, developing wood manufacturing capacity and infrastructure, establishing statewide wood utilization teams, and creating wood energy clusters. Applicants will be evaluated on a 100-point scale based on alignment with program goals (15 points), project definition and timeline clarity (30 points), reporting requirements (5 points), deliverables and outcomes (15 points), impact extent and significance (15 points), leveraged funding (5 points), and team qualifications and experience (15 points). The application deadline is April 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST, with anticipated award announcements in June 2026.
Individual awards are capped at $300,000, though applicants may request up to $500,000 with regional coordinator approval for projects demonstrating significant market impact, and up to $1,000,000 for stationary wood energy systems rated greater than 5 Megawatts in thermal output meeting specified efficiency criteria. Up to $30 million in total funding is available across approximately 100 awards, with typical project award periods of 2-3 years and maximum periods of 5 years for complex projects. Applicants must provide a minimum 100% cost-share match from non-federal sources for every $1 of federal funding requested, with matching contributions available as cash, in-kind services, or materials. Performance of awarded work is expected across various locations throughout the United States, with particular emphasis on National Forest System lands and regions with high wildfire risk.
Synopsis
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
**Note - Wood Innovations Application Form (FS-1500-50) has been corrected to address character/space limitations. -
The USDA Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 Pub. L. 115-334 Sec. 8643, Rural Revitalization Technologies 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6601, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 Div. J Title VI to meet the nationwide challenge of disposing of hazardous fuels and other wood residues from the National Forest System and other U.S. forest lands in a manner that supports wood products and wood energy markets. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to: 1.) Reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forestlands; 2.) Reduce costs of forest management on all land types; 3.) Promote economic and environmental health of communities.
The intent of the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support wood products markets and wood energy markets. Projects can include, but are not limited to:
- Completing requirements, such as engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary, in the later stages of commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material and in the later stages of wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals will not be competitive.
- Developing manufacturing capacity, other necessary wood products infrastructure, and markets for wood products that support forest ecosystem restoration.
- Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in an actual commercial building and the projected benefits achieved if replicated across the United States based on commercial construction market trends.
- Establishing statewide wood utilization teams and statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing (or former) team will be considered.
- Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing sector, or industrial sector).
- Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector.
Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Home page
Instructions on how to apply for funding and the required Application Form can be downloaded at the following weblinks.
**Note - Wood Innovations Application Form (FS-1500-50) has been corrected to address character/space limitations.
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity Application (FS-1500-0050)
Instructions FY26 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity
Wood Innovations Application Webinar
Wood Innovations Grant Factsheet
Applications must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 ET on April 22, 2026.
Update #2 ·
Added additional information regarding eligibility -
The USDA Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 Pub. L. 115-334 Sec. 8643, Rural Revitalization Technologies 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6601, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 Div. J Title VI to meet the nationwide challenge of disposing of hazardous fuels and other wood residues from the National Forest System and other U.S. forest lands in a manner that supports wood products and wood energy markets. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to: 1.) Reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forestlands; 2.) Reduce costs of forest management on all land types; 3.) Promote economic and environmental health of communities.
The intent of the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support wood products markets and wood energy markets. Projects can include, but are not limited to:
- Completing requirements, such as engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary, in the later stages of commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material and in the later stages of wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals will not be competitive.
- Developing manufacturing capacity, other necessary wood products infrastructure, and markets for wood products that support forest ecosystem restoration.
- Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in an actual commercial building and the projected benefits achieved if replicated across the United States based on commercial construction market trends.
- Establishing statewide wood utilization teams and statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing (or former) team will be considered.
- Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing sector, or industrial sector).
- Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector.
Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Home page
Instructions on how to apply for funding and the required Application Form can be downloaded at the following weblinks.
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity Application (FS-1500-0050)
Instructions FY26 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity
Wood Innovations Application Webinar
Wood Innovations Grant Factsheet
Applications must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 ET on April 22, 2026.
Update #1 ·
N/A -
The USDA Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 Pub. L. 115-334 Sec. 8643, Rural Revitalization Technologies 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6601, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 Div. J Title VI to meet the nationwide challenge of disposing of hazardous fuels and other wood residues from the National Forest System and other U.S. forest lands in a manner that supports wood products and wood energy markets. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to: 1.) Reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forestlands; 2.) Reduce costs of forest management on all land types; 3.) Promote economic and environmental health of communities.
The intent of the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support wood products markets and wood energy markets. Projects can include, but are not limited to:
- Completing requirements, such as engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary, in the later stages of commercial construction projects that use wood as a primary building material and in the later stages of wood energy project development to secure financing. Early phase project development proposals will not be competitive.
- Developing manufacturing capacity, other necessary wood products infrastructure, and markets for wood products that support forest ecosystem restoration.
- Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a sustainable building material in an actual commercial building and the projected benefits achieved if replicated across the United States based on commercial construction market trends.
- Establishing statewide wood utilization teams and statewide wood energy teams. Only proposals from States without an existing (or former) team will be considered.
- Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific sector (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities, manufacturing sector, or industrial sector).
- Overcoming market barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector.
Additional details on the funding opportunity can be found at Wood Innovations Home page
Instructions on how to apply for funding and the required Application Form can be downloaded at the following weblinks.
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity Application (FS-1500-0050)
Instructions FY26 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity
Wood Innovations Application Webinar
Wood Innovations Grant Factsheet
Applications must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 ET on April 22, 2026.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FS NOFO Wood Innovations Grant FY26-FINAL.docx | DOCX document | |
| FS NOFO Wood Innovations Grant FY26-FINAL.docx | DOCX document | |
| FS-1500-0050_Wood Innovations Application_Final_V2.pdf | ||
| FS-1500-0050 Application Form.pdf |
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