Forest Economy Program
General information
The Forest Economy Program supports the forest-based economy and assists in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models. Successful projects support a broad range of forest-based economy initiatives such as public infrastructure projects that directly support the forest industry; community development projects that support the diversified use of forest for economic activity; workforce training and development projects for the purpose of building the skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses; and marketing, communication and education projects that are paired with a public infrastructure, community development or workforce training or development project. Basic research projects will not be considered.
Funding details
Funding application timeline
Grant eligibility
State government; Local governments (village, town, city, and county); Secondary and career technical centers; Other political subdivisions of States (regional planning commissions, authorities of the state); 501(c) Non-profit entities; Federally Recognized Tribal Government
Funding priorities include: Invest in the development and commercialization of technologies that create and grow new markets for low-grade forest harvest residuals. Invest in workforce recruitment, development, and training to increase job placement across the forest product continuum. Help to sustain and grow existing forest industry businesses and operations, such as through technical assistance. Aid in the revitalization of rural communities through the diversified use of northern border forests for economic activity to include wood products and advanced materials manufacturing, as well as for other economic activity that utilizes northern border forests sustainably for the production of wood products and advanced materials manufacturing.
Applicants and projects must be located within the NBRC region. This includes all Maine counties except York, Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties. Some exceptions apply. Please contact sarah.demers@maine.gov for more information.