Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS WERC 2008
Apply for USDA FS WERC 2008
- The Forest Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wood Education and Resource Center Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2008" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 4, 2007 and posted on Dec 4, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 4, 2008 Not applicable. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible organizations include state and local governmental agencies, non profits, institutions of higher education, tribes, and for profits.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2008 is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA Forest Service through its WERC office in Princeton, West Virginia. The program is built around cost-share demonstration projects, meaning applicants are expected to contribute matching resources rather than relying entirely on federal dollars. The overall purpose is practical and industry-facing: WERC wants projects that strengthen interaction, information sharing, and technology transfer across the forest products sector in ways that support long-term, sustainable forest products production in the eastern hardwood region.
The geographic focus is the eastern hardwood forest region, and the eligible project footprint includes a large multi-state area: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Projects are expected to be relevant to this region’s hardwood-based economy and resource conditions, whether the work is centered on manufacturing, market development, workforce and business capacity, or emerging threats and opportunities affecting wood supply and utilization.
Funding for FY 2008 was expected to total about $1,000,000, with the final amount dependent on the Forest Service’s finalized FY 2008 budget. The program anticipated making around 20 awards. Individual grant awards were expected to range from $10,000 (award floor) to $100,000 (award ceiling), which signals a preference for focused, implementable demonstration efforts rather than large multi-year capital projects. Applications were due to WERC by February 4, 2008, with the opportunity originally posted on December 4, 2007, and later archived on March 5, 2008.
A key part of this opportunity is how it defines priorities. Projects receive preference when they help maintain or improve the economic competitiveness of both primary hardwood industries (such as sawmills and basic processing) and secondary industries (such as flooring, furniture, cabinetry, millwork, and other value-added manufacturing). Competitive proposals may involve adoption of new technologies, process improvements, or other innovations that increase profitability and resilience in hardwood businesses. Another priority area emphasizes getting practical information and technology into the hands of existing and emerging wood products businesses, especially around processing methods, marketing strategies, and business skills that can help firms grow or adapt.
WERC also highlights projects that expand utilization pathways for wood that is often underused or challenging to market. This includes urban wood utilization (turning storm debris, municipal tree removals, and other urban tree waste into usable products), hazardous fuels reduction material (wood removed for wildfire risk reduction), and other stewardship-driven utilization options that improve forest health and management outcomes. Connected to this is an emphasis on low-value woody biomass, encouraging proposals that identify workable end uses and supply chain solutions so that small-diameter, low-grade, or otherwise hard-to-sell material can be put to productive use instead of becoming a disposal burden.
Another major priority is preparedness and response to emergency issues that can rapidly change wood flows and market conditions. The announcement specifically calls out phytosanitation for wood packaging materials, firewood, and similar products to prevent the spread of insects and diseases through wood movement. It also points to market and utilization solutions for sudden surges in available wood volume caused by events such as invasive pest outbreaks (for example, emerald ash borer) or severe weather (such as tornados and ice storms). In practice, this could include demonstrations of processing approaches, product development, logistics coordination, or market-building strategies that keep damaged or salvaged wood from going to waste.
Woody biomass for energy and raw materials is another central theme. WERC prioritized projects that increase sustainable biomass use through public-private partnerships and real-world deployment models, including biomass heating and cooling, process energy, combined heat and power (cogeneration), district energy systems, and production of solid and liquid fuels. The program also recognizes that building demand is not enough by itself, so it invites proposals that strengthen local markets and supporting infrastructure, helping communities and businesses develop stable supply chains that can support both energy uses and value-added product opportunities.
Finally, WERC encourages proposals that deliver “key information” addressing the broader economic, social, and ecological dimensions of woody biomass production and use. This includes work on sustainable supply assessments, harvesting and operational techniques, forest management approaches, plantation development where appropriate, and the environmental implications of increased biomass utilization. In other words, the program is not only interested in new products or new equipment demonstrations; it also values credible, applied work that helps stakeholders understand how to expand wood and biomass use responsibly and sustainably.
Eligibility was broad and included state and local government agencies, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, tribes, and for-profit entities, reflecting WERC’s goal of engaging the full mix of partners involved in forest products, economic development, and resource stewardship. The awarding agency was the USDA Forest Service, and the funding instrument type was a grant. For additional details or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact was Edward Cesa, Deputy Director at WERC, reachable by phone at 304-285-1530.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - WERC Competitive Grants Program (FY 2008)
What is the WERC Competitive Grants Program (FY 2008)?
The Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2008 is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA Forest Service through its WERC office in Princeton, West Virginia. It supports cost-share demonstration projects intended to strengthen interaction, information sharing, and technology transfer across the forest products sector, with an emphasis on long-term, sustainable forest products production in the eastern hardwood region.
Who runs and awards this grant?
The awarding agency is the USDA Forest Service. The opportunity is administered through the Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) office in Princeton, West Virginia.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
Is this a cost-share program?
Yes. The program is built around cost-share demonstration projects, meaning applicants are expected to contribute matching resources rather than relying entirely on federal dollars.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program aims to fund practical, industry-facing demonstration projects that improve interaction, information sharing, and technology transfer in the forest products sector, supporting sustainable forest products production in the eastern hardwood region.
What geographic region does WERC focus on?
The geographic focus is the eastern hardwood forest region. Projects are expected to be relevant to this region's hardwood-based economy and resource conditions.
Which states are included in the eligible project footprint?
The eligible multi-state area includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
How much funding was expected to be available for FY 2008?
Funding for FY 2008 was expected to total about $1,000,000, with the final amount dependent on the USDA Forest Service's finalized FY 2008 budget.
About how many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making around 20 awards.
What is the expected award size range?
Individual grant awards were expected to range from $10,000 (award floor) to $100,000 (award ceiling).
What does the award range suggest about the kinds of projects WERC wants?
The $10,000 to $100,000 range suggests a preference for focused, implementable demonstration efforts rather than large multi-year capital projects.
When was the application due?
Applications were due to WERC by February 4, 2008.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was originally posted on December 4, 2007, and later archived on March 5, 2008.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included state and local government agencies, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, tribes, and for-profit entities.
What kinds of projects receive preference under this program?
Projects receive preference when they strengthen economic competitiveness in primary hardwood industries (such as sawmills and basic processing) and secondary industries (such as flooring, furniture, cabinetry, millwork, and other value-added manufacturing), and when they advance practical information sharing and technology transfer to wood products businesses.
How does WERC define primary and secondary hardwood industries?
Primary hardwood industries include sawmills and basic processing. Secondary hardwood industries include value-added manufacturing such as flooring, furniture, cabinetry, millwork, and related products.
What kinds of technology or innovation activities are considered competitive?
Competitive proposals may include adoption of new technologies, process improvements, or other innovations designed to increase profitability and resilience in hardwood businesses.
Does the program support workforce or business capacity activities?
Yes. The announcement notes that projects may be centered on workforce and business capacity, including efforts that provide practical information around processing methods, marketing strategies, and business skills that help firms grow or adapt.
What does WERC mean by "technology transfer" in this context?
Based on the announcement's emphasis, technology transfer refers to getting practical information and usable technologies into the hands of existing and emerging wood products businesses, particularly around processing, marketing, and business skills.
Does WERC prioritize projects that expand markets for underused wood?
Yes. WERC highlights projects that expand utilization pathways for wood that is often underused or challenging to market.
What is "urban wood utilization" as described in the opportunity?
Urban wood utilization refers to turning storm debris, municipal tree removals, and other urban tree waste into usable products.
What is "hazardous fuels reduction material" and why is it relevant?
Hazardous fuels reduction material is wood removed to reduce wildfire risk. WERC emphasized stewardship-driven utilization options that improve forest health and management outcomes, including productive uses for this material.
Is low-value woody biomass a priority area?
Yes. The program emphasizes low-value woody biomass and encourages proposals that identify workable end uses and supply chain solutions for small-diameter, low-grade, or otherwise hard-to-sell material.
Does the program address emergency wood utilization issues (like storms or invasive pests)?
Yes. A major priority is preparedness and response to emergency issues that can rapidly change wood flows and market conditions, including market and utilization solutions for sudden surges in available wood volume caused by events like invasive pest outbreaks or severe weather.
What emergency events are specifically mentioned?
The announcement mentions invasive pest outbreaks (with emerald ash borer given as an example) and severe weather such as tornados and ice storms.
Does the program prioritize phytosanitation projects?
Yes. The announcement specifically calls out phytosanitation for wood packaging materials, firewood, and similar products to help prevent the spread of insects and diseases through wood movement.
What types of biomass energy projects are within scope?
WERC prioritized projects that increase sustainable biomass use through public-private partnerships and real-world deployment models, including biomass heating and cooling, process energy, combined heat and power (cogeneration), district energy systems, and production of solid and liquid fuels.
Are public-private partnerships encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly prioritizes sustainable biomass use through public-private partnerships and real-world deployment models.
Does WERC care about market development and infrastructure, not just energy demand?
Yes. The announcement recognizes that building demand is not enough by itself and invites proposals that strengthen local markets and supporting infrastructure to develop stable supply chains that support energy uses and value-added product opportunities.
What does WERC mean by delivering "key information" about woody biomass?
WERC encourages proposals that deliver key information on the economic, social, and ecological dimensions of woody biomass production and use. Examples mentioned include sustainable supply assessments, harvesting and operational techniques, forest management approaches, plantation development where appropriate, and environmental implications of increased biomass utilization.
What should applicants do if they need additional details or have access issues with the full announcement?
For additional details or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact is Edward Cesa, Deputy Director at WERC, reachable by phone at 304-285-1530.
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