WOODY BIOMASS UTILIZATION GRANT PROGRAM

Program Purpose

Reduce forest management costs by increasing the value of biomass and other forest products generated from hazardous fuels reduction and forest health activities. Create incentives and/or reduce business risk for increased use of woody biomass from priority forestlands identified either by the Forest Service or through local Community Wildfire Protection Plans (or equivalent documents) as forestlands and other areas at high risk from wildfires and in need of hazardous fuels reduction work. Implement projects that target and help remove economic and market barriers to using small-diameter trees and woody biomass. Produce renewable energy from woody biomass, including the use of new technologies. Expand working relationships between local forest products businesses and Forest Service offices.

Deadline to Apply

Pre-applications are usually due in November.

Eligibility Description

Entities eligible include: Non-profits, local, state, and Tribal governments, business, companies, corporation, (for profit), special purpose districts, (public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or port). Land treatment must be adjacent to National Forest System lands and may include other lands as part of the treatment activities.

Special Conditions

Applicants must demonstrate a 20 percent cost share from non-Federal sources, which can include in-kind contributions. In-kind, or non-cash contributions, must be reasonable, allowable, and the recipient must be able to demonstrate in the application that all costs can be shown as actual costs to the recipient in performing the project. i.) All unit costs must be clearly identified in the budget justification and must be allowable, reasonable, and auditable. ii.) funds paid by the Federal government under another award, unless authorized by Federal statute, may not be used for cost sharing or matching. Construction projects involving a permanent building or infrastructure item, such as roads, are not allowed with these federal funds; however, construction funds can be part of the non-federal cost share. Proposals should not include the use of this grant funding to prepare bids for U.S. Forest Service contracts or agreements.

Funding Availability

Funding Potential for Award–National funding for the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program has been around from $4 million per year.

Range of Awards–Individual grants will be not less than $50,000 or more than $350,000. Grant funding will be divided into two parts. Half of the funds will be allocated for projects on U.S. Forest Service National Forest (NF) priority forestlands. The remaining funds will be allocated for projects on non-priority NF lands and other eligible lands.

Funding Cycle – Duration–As determined by project, no longer than 3 years.

Source of Funds–Federally funded program, based on annual appropriations from Congress.

Application Process

Deadline–Pre-applications are usually due in November.

How to Apply–Directions may be found at www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu under Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Grants.

Selection Criteria & Decision Authority–Grants are approved on the basis of a nationwide review and are based on technical and financial merits of the project as evaluated by a panel of Federal, State, and local business experts and peers. Criteria include showing a demonstrated ability to use biomass from hazardous fuels reduction/treatment projects on and near National Forest lands.

Authorization

To address the goals of Public Law 110-234, Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Rural Revitalization Technologies (7 U.S.C. 6601)

Related Programs

N/A

Frequently Asked Questions:

Please contact Biomass Coordinator with questions.