E-mail: smilausakas@fs.fed.us
E-mail: dwanner@fs.fed.us

USDA Forest Service Announces WERC Grants Available

Newtown Square, PA — The USDA Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) has announced that it is accepting applications for cost-share demonstration projects. The center will award approximately $1 million in grants for projects that help facilitate interaction and information exchange between the WERC and the forest products industry and that enhance opportunities for sustained forest products production in the eastern hardwood forest region.

Completed grant applications are due on or before February 1, 2006 . Instructions and the application form can be found at the Wood Education and Resource Center’s Web site at: http://na.fs.fed.us/ea/werc/werc.shtm.

“As with previous grants, these grants will continue to help maintain the health of our hardwood forests,” said WERC Director Steve Milauskas. “Additionally, projects created by these grants will make it more economical to harvest lower-value trees and allow us to take better care of our forests.”

Priority will be given to projects that accomplish one or more of the following:

• Maintain the economic competitiveness of primary and secondary hardwood industries.
• Bring information and technology about processing, marketing, and business-related skills to existing and emerging businesses involved in the development and manufacturing of wood products.
• Bring information and technology to existing and emerging businesses that focus on urban wood utilization, hazardous fuels reduction, utilization options geared to improving stewardship, or using woody biomass as a domestic energy source.
• Encourage the adoption of new technology to improve competitiveness and profitability.
• Provide support and key information to entrepreneurs and startup businesses.
• Address global issues, such as phytosanitation of wood packaging materials, and assist communities and industries facing threats from invasive species such as the emerald ash borer.

The Wood Education and Resource Center , located in Princeton , WVa, is administered by the USDA Forest Service agency's State and Private Forestry Northeastern Area Office. The center's mission is to work with the forest products industry toward sustainable forest products production for the eastern hardwood forest region. It provides state-of-the-art training, technology transfer, networking opportunities, applied research, and information. For more information, visit www.na.fs.fed.us/ea/werc/werc.shtm or contact WERC Director Steve Milauskas or Deputy Director Ed Cesa at (304) 487-1510.