Timber for Transit

    Funding agency
    Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)
    Program name
    Office of Business Development
    Status
    Open
    Description

    The Timber for Transit program supports domestic forest products in transportation infrastructure. Highly competitive projects will demonstrate and widely promote the utility of high-value forest products (e.g. glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, composite materials, etc.) in transportation infrastructure and commit to enhancing climate resilience in rural communities.

    Contact
    Sarah Demers, sarah.demers@maine.gov
    Additional notes

    Feasibility Projects will be awarded a maximum of $1 million. Implementation Projects will be awarded a maximum of $5 million for projects that demonstrate at least one of the following: 1) demonstrate alignment with two or more of the funding priorities of the program 2) project has been identified by NBRC or a State(s) as addressing a time-sensitive issue of magnitude or severity that will be addressed by the proposed project, or 3) construction takes place in two or more eligible communities, counties or states.

    Total funding
    $14,000,000
    Max award
    $5,000,000
    Match required
    Yes
    Match description
    20% match for Distressed Counties; 50% match for Transitional Counties - https://www.nbrc.gov/content/distressed-counties
    Applications close
    Anticipated next round
    Future rounds
    Future rounds anticipated
    Eligible applicant description

    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

    Eligibility requirements

    Funding priorities include: Commit to utilizing domestically sourced timber; Demonstrate evidence of planning for extreme weather readiness including but not limited to carbon capture, increased frequency and intensity of storm events, and sea level rise; Utilize projects as a tool for university and industry education and training; Demonstrates alignment with state and community initiatives; Include promotion/publication/marketing as part of project deliverables; Support, benefit, or engage communities that are impacted by specific socio-economic indicators.

    Geographic eligibility

    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.

    Project type
    Community and Economic Development
    Infrastructure and Transportation
    Natural Resource and Environmental Stewardship
    Project subcategory
    Bike/Ped and Trails
    Boats and Ferries
    Downtown and Village Development
    Economic Development
    Outdoor Recreation
    Parks and Recreation
    Ports and Harbors
    Railroads and Railway Crossings
    Roads and Bridges
    Tourism and Hospitality
    Transit and Vehicles
    Working Waterfronts
    Other (Community and Economic Development)
    Other (Infrastructure and Transportation)
    Project stage
    Planning
    Design
    Implementation
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    Last updated: December 22, 2025