State And Private Forestry

Intermountain and Northern Regions

Economic Action Program (EAP)    

Recently funding for these programs have been scarce.  Programs that are included in Economic Action Program include:

• Woody Biomass Utilization Grant
• Forest Products Technology

The focus for the Economic Action Programs will be to administer existing grants, assist in promoting the national woody biomass utilization grant program, promote forest products technology and to position the region and our partners to be ready to utilize increased funding if appropriated.

Woody Biomass Utilization Grant

The Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program seeks proposals that would create markets for small diameter and low valued trees removed during forest thinning and/or other restoration projects.

Improved utilization and expanded markets for biomass material can help reduce forest restoration costs by increasing the value, creating incentives, decreasing business risks, and helping remove economic and market barriers for using small-diameter trees and woody biomass.

Of special interest are projects that accelerate the adoption of technologies employing woody biomass and small-diameter materials.  This grant also aims to create community based enterprises through marketing activities and demonstration projects and to also establish small scale business enterprises to make use of biomass and small-diameter materials.  Such projects will improve forest health and help vitalize rural communities whose forest-based economies have suffered in recent years.

Forest Products Technology

The Forest Products Technology promotes the efficient use of wood fiber, particularly small diameter trees and other woody material thus extending the useful life of forest products and improving the use of wood and fiber wastes.  It also stimulates the development and manufacture of value-added forest products.

The benefits of the Economic Action Program are:

• Stronger local economies through diversified forest product markets and local value added products
• Restored watersheds and forest and forest/grassland ecosystems  Turn "Waste" wood into energy and wood products
• Rebuilding or improving upon good community working relationships
• Capacity building within rural communities

Key Partners

• National Forests and the Ranger Districts
• Local/state nonprofit/for-Profit corporations, including forest product primary and secondary manufacturers
• Resource Conservation and Development Areas
• Other forest products specialists/state use and marketing specialists
• State universities and colleges
• Indian tribes
• State and local governments, including state department of Commerce, State Forester, and State Economic Development Departments
• USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI
• Other federal agencies
• Small Business Development Centers
• State Rural Development Partnerships

Opportunities for National Forests and Grasslands

• Efficient use of unused or under-used small diameter wood fiber - a solution for forest health, wild fire, and ecosystem restoration issues.
• Technical assistance and advice for planning and implementing projects
• Marketing forest products technology for sustainable rural economic development
• Training, demonstrations, and workshops for people in rural forest-based industries on technical advances in technologies for forest products and efficient uses of woody material that help forest managers meet forest management objectives and rural communities develop sustainable businesses.
• Linking community planning, projects, and values more closely with natural resources and forest planning

Program Coordinator for ID, MT, NV, ND, UT

For further assistance contact Scott Bell or David Atkins