Funding Leads for January - March 2011

National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program
Grants for community-based forestry projects, particularly those that focus on forest health and restoration. Projects should address the need for greater collaboration in community-based forestry projects. Local constituencies should be included in the decision-making process through ecological restoration activities and action-oriented training, conservation and restoration projects. Other funding priorities in addition to Community-Based Forestry include: Wildlife Habitat Improvement, Recreation, Watershed Health and Restoration. Due January 18. http://nationalforests.org/conserve/grantprograms/ontheground/map/application

US Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC)
$10,000-$80,000 for projects that focus on enhancing opportunities for sustained forest products production for primary and secondary hardwood industries located in the 35-state eastern hardwood forest region. Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations, State and local governmental agencies, institutions of higher education, tribes, and for-profit organizations. Anticipated funding is approximately $750,000 for 10-15 projects. Requires 1:1 match. Due February 1. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/grants.shtm

Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Up to $400,000 per year for 3-year projects focusing on using outreach and technical assistance to connect socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to USDA programs. No match required. Due February 15. Click here for the RFP.

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP)
Grants that pay up to 50 percent of the implementation and monitoring costs of ecological restoration treatments on National Forest System lands. Due February 18. http://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/CFLR/submittingproposals.shtml

US Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization Grant
Up to $250,000 for projects aimed at completing feasibility and design work for wood-to-energy projects that will use woody biomass material removed from forest restoration activities, such as wildfire hazardous fuel treatments, insect and disease mitigation, forest management due to catastrophic weather events, and/or thinning overstocked stands. 20% match required. Due March 1. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/research/units/tmu/tmugrants.shtml

USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG)
Provides funding to help with business development and infrastructure support in your community. RBEG grants can be used to pay for the extension of services, building of roads, training and technical assistance and professional services for rural enterprises. Forest-based business can utilize this grant program to expand their operations, move to a location, hire legal and professional contractors, or generate other expansion for high-impact rural enterprise growth and development. For instance, NNFP member, Mass Woodlands Cooperative, has utilized RBEG funding to build markets and improve wood processing opportunities for its FSC-certified wood products. RBEG grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Contact your State USDA Rural Development office for more information or visit: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm.