{"id":19420,"date":"2024-05-16T17:04:26","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T21:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=19420"},"modified":"2024-05-17T10:24:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T14:24:23","slug":"merkley-wyden-announce-over-6-2-million-to-boost-oregons-innovative-wood-products-economy-and-support-healthy-forests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/merkley-wyden-announce-over-6-2-million-to-boost-oregons-innovative-wood-products-economy-and-support-healthy-forests\/","title":{"rendered":"Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $6.2 Million to Boost Oregon\u2019s Innovative Wood Products Economy and Support Healthy Forests"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is investing $6,276,170 in 13 projects in Oregon to boost the creation of innovative wood products, develop more markets for uses of mass timber and renewable wood energy, and increase the capacity of wood processing and manufacturing facilities. The federal funding is critical to ensuring the state\u2019s leadership in the wood products industry, while helping to restore healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOregon has the best wood products in the world, and this federal funding helps keep our state at the forefront of timber innovation while supporting our rural communities,\u201d said Merkley , who chairs the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee which funds the USFS, and who recently introduced his bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act<\/a><\/em> to promote the utilization of mass timber in federal building projects and military construction.<\/strong> \u201cThese projects are a win-win to help get wood products to our mills and help reduce wildfire risk on our forests. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing the benefits of these investments for the fast-growing industry that\u2019s deeply rooted in Oregon.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThese federal investments throughout rural Oregon appropriately recognize that wood products and innovation are both synonymous with our state –and will continue to be for generations to come,\u201d dijo Wyden.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m gratified the Ley de Infraestructura Bipartidista<\/em> y Ley de Reducci\u00f3n de la Inflaci\u00f3n <\/em>that I worked to pass are producing such significant and immediate gains to reduce wildfire threats and to increase jobs for Oregonians in rural communities from mass timber and renewable wood energy. This all adds up to a big win that gives Oregon lots to build upon.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The wood products economy is essential to Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest\u2019s economy and environment, as sustainably sourced materials for many types of wood products improves the resiliency of our forests. Removal of small diameter trees and brush to reduce wildfire risk can benefit wildlife all while supporting rural economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investments for Oregon are part of a broader suite of U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s USFS Wood Innovations Program grants for public, private, and non-profit sectors, totaling $73.9 million for 171 projects across the country<\/a> this year. This federal funding is made possible by the Ley de Infraestructura Bipartidista<\/em>, el Ley de Reducci\u00f3n de la Inflaci\u00f3n<\/em>, and annual appropriations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 13 projects selected in Oregon are being funded in three Wood Innovations Program grant categories<\/a>, which are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood Innovation Grants<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n