The federal Community Wood Facilities Grant Program, which helps fund wood-energy and wood-product projects in rural areas, would get a significant upgrade. The maximum grant per project would jump from $1.5 million to $5 million, the federal cost-share would rise from 35% to 50%, and the annual funding authorization would double from $25 million to $50 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The bill also expands eligibility to include new construction of forest products manufacturing facilities, not just retrofitting existing sawmills. It's targeted at rural communities that depend on forestry and wood products for jobs and economic development.
Congressional Summary
Community Wood Facilities Assistance Act of 2025 This bill makes changes to grant programs administered by the Forest Service to promote wood products.Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030, modifies, and renames the Community Wood Facilities Grant program. Currently named the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program, this program provides competitive grants to fund a portion of the capital costs for installing community wood energy systems or building innovative wood products facilities. Modifications to the program include increasing the maximum grant amount per facility, increasing the portion of a project's cost that may be covered by a grant, and changing the grant selection criteria.The bill also modifies the Wood Innovation Grant Program, which provides grants to develop and expand the market for innovative wood products. Specifically, the bill increases the portion of a project's cost that may be covered by such a grant.The bill also modifies both programs to prioritize grants for the construction, use, or retrofitting of forest products manufacturing.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-03-31
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30