Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS WERC 2009
Apply for USDA FS WERC 2009
- The Forest Service in the business and commerce energy natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wood Education and Resource Center Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2009" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 10, 2008 and posted on Dec 1, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 2, 2009. (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: For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses State governments Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2009 is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, specifically through the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. The program is built around cost-share demonstration projects that help WERC carry out its core mission: strengthening interaction and practical information exchange with the forest products industry in ways that support sustained forest products production across the eastern hardwood forest region. In plain terms, the Forest Service is looking to fund applied, real-world projects that can be shown, shared, and replicated by industry and partners to improve hardwood sector performance, sustainability, and resilience.
For FY 2009, the Forest Service anticipated approximately $1,000,000 in total funding, with the final amount dependent on the agency receiving its official FY 2009 budget. The program expected to make around 20 awards. Individual grant amounts were designed to support small to mid-sized demonstration efforts, with an award floor of $10,000 and an award ceiling of $100,000. A cost-sharing or matching contribution is required, meaning applicants should be prepared to bring partner funds, in-kind support, or other non-federal contributions to complete the project budget and demonstrate shared investment.
Applications were due to WERC on or before February 2, 2009 (original and current closing date), and the opportunity was posted in early December 2008. The funding activity categories span business and commerce, energy, and natural resources, reflecting WERCs emphasis on projects that connect forest stewardship to market outcomes, manufacturing realities, and emerging energy needs.
WERC signaled clear funding priorities, and proposals received preference if they addressed one or more of the following areas. First, the program prioritizes efforts that maintain or improve the economic competitiveness of primary and secondary hardwood industries. This can include encouraging adoption of new technology that improves profitability, delivering practical information on processing, marketing, and business skills to existing or emerging enterprises (including urban wood utilization), and developing new utilization options that support better forest stewardship and overall forest health. The emphasis here is not just research for its own sake, but hands-on technology transfer and industry-relevant demonstrations that help hardwood businesses compete.
Second, WERC placed importance on expanding what the hardwood industry knows and can document about its role in the green building movement. Example topics include sustainable wood product certification, chain-of-custody systems, and life cycle analysis across a range of wood products. This priority reflects growing demand from architects, builders, and institutional purchasers for credible sustainability claims backed by traceability and rigorous environmental accounting.
Third, the program encourages projects that increase knowledge, information, and promotion related to carbon sequestration in wood products as a competitive advantage for a sustainable hardwood industry. A representative example is developing specific carbon storage factors for different wood products, which can help the industry quantify and communicate the climate benefits of long-lived wood products and potentially improve market positioning where carbon impacts matter.
Fourth, WERC highlighted the need to develop technology and markets that address urgent domestic or global challenges, especially those related to forest pests, invasive species, and sudden shifts in wood supply caused by disasters. Two concrete examples given are sanitizing wood packaging materials, firewood, and similar products to reduce the spread of insects and disease, and building markets and uses for unexpected surges in urban or rural wood volume caused by pest outbreaks such as emerald ash borer or by storm events like tornadoes and ice storms. This priority reflects an interest in rapid, practical responses that reduce risk pathways and turn damaged or surplus material into economic and stewardship opportunities.
Fifth, the program supports increasing the sustainable use of woody biomass to meet national needs for energy and raw materials. Priority examples include public-private partnerships that use woody biomass in heating and cooling applications, process energy, cogeneration, district energy systems, and solid or liquid fuel production. Projects can also focus on developing or maintaining local markets and forest industry infrastructure by using woody biomass both for energy and for value-added products, tying together rural economic development, forest management needs, and energy diversification.
Eligibility was broad and included for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, with small businesses also listed separately), nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under that category), Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), and multiple levels of government including city or township, county, and state governments. Both private institutions of higher education and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education were eligible as well. This wide eligibility structure suggests WERC expected multi-partner projects that connect industry, communities, government, and academia to deliver demonstrations with practical on-the-ground value.
Applicants seeking more details were directed to the WERC grants webpage at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/grants.shtm. For access issues or direct assistance, the listed contact was Edward Cesa, Deputy Director of WERC, reachable by phone at 304-285-1530 through the U.S. Forest Service.
Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) Competitive Grants Program (FY 2009) - FAQs
What is the WERC Competitive Grants Program (FY 2009)?
The Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2009 is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. It funds cost-share demonstration projects that help WERC advance its mission of strengthening interaction and practical information exchange with the forest products industry, supporting sustained forest products production across the eastern hardwood forest region.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, specifically through the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, via the Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC).
What kind of projects is WERC looking to fund?
WERC is looking to fund applied, real-world, cost-share demonstration projects that can be shown, shared, and replicated by industry and partners. The emphasis is on practical demonstrations and technology transfer that improve hardwood sector performance, sustainability, and resilience.
What is meant by a "cost-share demonstration project" for this program?
In this program, projects are structured as demonstrations with a required cost-sharing or matching contribution. Applicants are expected to bring partner funds, in-kind support, or other non-federal contributions to complete the project budget and demonstrate shared investment.
How much total funding was anticipated for FY 2009?
The Forest Service anticipated approximately $1,000,000 in total funding for FY 2009, with the final amount dependent on the agency receiving its official FY 2009 budget.
How many awards did the program expect to make?
The program expected to make around 20 awards.
What is the minimum and maximum award amount?
Individual awards were intended to support small to mid-sized demonstration efforts. The award floor was $10,000 and the award ceiling was $100,000.
Is a match or cost share required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching contribution is required. Applicants should be prepared to provide partner funds, in-kind support, or other non-federal contributions as part of the overall project budget.
When was the application due?
Applications were due to WERC on or before February 2, 2009. This was both the original and the current closing date stated for the opportunity.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted in early December 2008.
What funding activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity categories span business and commerce, energy, and natural resources. These categories reflect WERC's emphasis on projects that connect forest stewardship to market outcomes, manufacturing realities, and emerging energy needs.
What proposal topics or priorities receive preference?
WERC indicated proposals received preference if they addressed one or more stated priority areas. These priorities focus on competitiveness of hardwood industries, green building documentation, carbon sequestration in wood products, responses to pests/disasters and supply disruptions, and sustainable woody biomass use for energy and raw materials.
What types of projects support hardwood industry competitiveness?
Priority is given to efforts that maintain or improve the economic competitiveness of primary and secondary hardwood industries. Examples include encouraging adoption of new technology that improves profitability; delivering practical information on processing, marketing, and business skills to existing or emerging enterprises (including urban wood utilization); and developing new utilization options that support better forest stewardship and overall forest health.
Does this program support green building-related work?
Yes. A priority area is expanding what the hardwood industry knows and can document about its role in the green building movement. Example topics include sustainable wood product certification, chain-of-custody systems, and life cycle analysis across a range of wood products.
Are carbon-related projects eligible under this opportunity?
Yes. WERC encourages projects that increase knowledge, information, and promotion related to carbon sequestration in wood products as a competitive advantage for a sustainable hardwood industry. An example given is developing specific carbon storage factors for different wood products.
Does the program fund projects addressing forest pests, invasive species, or disaster-related wood supply shifts?
Yes. WERC highlighted the need to develop technology and markets that address urgent domestic or global challenges related to forest pests, invasive species, and sudden shifts in wood supply caused by disasters. Examples include sanitizing wood packaging materials and firewood to reduce the spread of insects and disease, and building markets for unexpected surges in wood volume caused by pest outbreaks (such as emerald ash borer) or storm events (such as tornadoes and ice storms).
Are woody biomass and energy projects a fit for this grant?
Yes. The program supports increasing the sustainable use of woody biomass to meet national needs for energy and raw materials. Priority examples include public-private partnerships using woody biomass for heating and cooling applications, process energy, cogeneration, district energy systems, and solid or liquid fuel production. Projects may also focus on developing or maintaining local markets and forest industry infrastructure by using woody biomass for energy and value-added products.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: for-profit organizations; small businesses (listed separately); nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under that nonprofit category); Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); city or township governments; county governments; state governments; private institutions of higher education; and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Can institutions of higher education apply?
Yes. Both private institutions of higher education and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible, with the note that institutions of higher education are excluded from being treated under that nonprofit category (and are instead listed separately as eligible under the higher education categories).
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) are listed as eligible applicants.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Multiple levels of government are eligible, including city or township, county, and state governments.
Where can applicants find more details about the program?
Applicants were directed to the WERC grants webpage at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/grants.shtm for more details.
Who can be contacted for help or access issues?
For access issues or direct assistance, the listed contact is Edward Cesa, Deputy Director of WERC, U.S. Forest Service, phone 304-285-1530.
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