The Valley Chronicle - $5 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR FOREST-SECTOR BUSINESS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Sacramento – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is soliciting applications for California business and workforce development projects that support healthy, resilient forests and the people and ecosystems that depend on them. Competitive projects will also sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

Applications will be accepted until midnight on April 25, 2025, via the Wood Products and Bioenergy webpage. A total of $5 million in grant funding is available.

CAL FIRE’s Wood Products & Bioenergy Program supports the creation of a robust and diversified wood products industry to facilitate the economic and sustainable management of California’s forests. These grants help make California a more competitive place to conduct forest-sector business and create financial incentives for industries to invest in clean technologies, develop innovative ways to process wood products, and support the growth of a strong forest-sector workforce. Since 2022, the program has provided over $80 million in grant funding for 94 projects.

“No other grant program is as targeted or efficient in using public funds to leverage private investment to manage down wildfire risk by creating new economic outlets for biomass,” said Andy Miller, CEO of Loamist, a 2024 grant recipient.

A virtual pre-recorded workshop link is available to explain the grant process and requirements. Inquiries can be submitted to WoodProducts@fire.ca.gov.

Projects that receive funding from this grant program are designed to complement the California Forest Carbon Plan, California’s Natural and Working Lands Implementation Plan, California’s Wildfire & Forest Resilience Action Plan, California’s Strategic Plan for Expanding the Use of Beneficial Fire, and AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan.

Business and Workforce Development grants are part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities.