New federal grants plan to strengthen rural economies, reduce wildfire risks, and support domestic wood production
The U.S. Forest Service, under the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is distributing $80 million in Wood Innovation Grants to promote wood product development, improve forest management, and encourage energy innovation in timber-producing areas.
“The United States is blessed with a bounty of natural resources that we must properly manage to sustain our future economy and boost rural communities. Proper forest use and management lowers our reliance on foreign products,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We’re investing in innovation that ensures a steady, sustainable supply of American wood that not only supports jobs and fuels economies, it protects the people and communities we serve.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort to better utilize natural resources while safeguarding communities and forest ecosystems.
The grants are designed to address overstocked forest conditions that heighten wildfire threats, while also opening opportunities for job creation and long-term environmental and economic stability.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Rollins to receive God’s wisdom as she heads the Department of Agriculture.
- For Director Tom Schultz as he oversees the U.S. Forest Service.
- For USDA officials as they promote the use of timber from forest management.
Sources: Department of Agriculture
