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Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC)
In order to maintain and improve the
Priorities include:
? Maintain the economic competitiveness of primary and secondary wood industries.
Examples include:
1) Encouraging the adoption of new technology to improve competitiveness and profitability,
2) Bringing information and technology about processing, marketing, and business-related skills as well as urban wood utilization to existing and emerging businesses, and
3) Developing utilization options that improve forest stewardship and health.
4) Support activities that maintain or enhance harvesting industry capacity to serve the wood industry.
? Increase the knowledge and information about how the wood industry can contribute to the green building movement.
Examples include chain of custody certification for sustainable wood products as well as life cycle analysis for a range of wood products.
? Increase the knowledge, information, and promotion of how carbon sequestration by wood products can provide a competitive edge to a sustainable forest products industry.
An example includes developing specific carbon storage factors for a range of wood products.
? Develop technology and markets to address urgent issues on a global or domestic scale, including:
1) Sanitizing wood packaging materials, firewood, and similar products to eliminate these pathways for the transport of insect and disease pests, and
2) Developing markets for and using unexpected increases in the volume of urban and rural wood due to new pest introductions (for example, emerald ash borer) and weather events such as tornadoes and ice storms.
? Increase the sustainable use of woody biomass to meet our Nation?s needs for energy, raw materials, and reductions of hazardous fuels.
Examples include public/private partnerships for using woody biomass in heating and cooling, process energy, cogeneration, district energy systems, and solid and liquid fuel production.
Projects may also develop or maintain local markets and forest industry infrastructure by using woody biomass for both energy and value-added products.
Provide key information to address the economic, social and ecological aspects of woody biomass production and use: including sustainable supplies, harvesting techniques, forest management, plantation development, and environmental implications.
Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2018: No Current Data Available
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Wood Education and Resource Center, 301 Hardwood Lane, Princeton, WV 24740, Phone: (304) 487-1510; FAX: (304) 487-6661, E-mail: werc@fs.fed.us.
Selected Recipients for this Program
| Recipient | Amount | Start Date | End Date | |
| Regents Of The University Of Minnesota | $ 50,000 | 2018-09-12 | 2020-08-31 | |
| North Carolina State University | $ 50,000 | 2016-09-15 | 2019-03-31 | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $ 29,902 | 2012-08-01 | 2017-12-31 | |
| North Carolina State University | $ 39,990 | 2014-09-18 | 2016-08-31 | |
| West Virginia University Research Corporation | $ 80,842 | 2011-08-24 | 2016-08-15 | |
| West Virginia University Research Corporation | $ 49,791 | 2011-07-15 | 2016-06-30 | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $ 69,384 | 2010-05-26 | 2015-06-30 | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $ 58,030 | 2010-06-15 | 2015-06-30 | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $ 57,831 | 2010-06-15 | 2015-06-30 | |
| Conservation & Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department Of | $ 14,613 | 2011-09-01 | 2015-06-30 |
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Projects need to complement existing activities and/or focus on niches that are not being met by either industry or service providers.
In addition, projects need to clearly document industry support and involvement.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Nonfederal agencies; public and private agencies including State, local and tribal governments; institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; corporations; businesses; and others.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Nonfederal agencies; public and private agencies including State, local and tribal governments; institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; corporations; businesses.
Credentials/Documentation
No credentials or documentation are required. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Depending on available funding, an application package (including instructions, application and electronic location of financial forms) is developed each year that provides guidelines for applicants to follow in developing their proposal.
Standard financial assistance application forms (SF-424, SF-424A and applicable Certifications) are required.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.
Award Procedures
Established by the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area Office, Newtown Square, PA.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Public Law 105-277, Div. A, Section 101(e) Title III, Section 343, 112 Stat. 2681-231, 2681-297; Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, as amended, 16 USC 2101 et, seq,; Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Act of 1978, as amended, 6 USC 1600-1614.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
From 60 to 90 days. SF-424A with SF-424 application is required to amend the awarded amount or length of commitment. Unsuccessful applications can be resubmitted in future years.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching Requirements: Depending on budget authority, anywhere from 20 to 50 percent match. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants or Cooperative Agreements are normally awarded for a period of 12 to 36 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Established in award terms. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is awarded or released according to conditions established in award terms.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required.
No cash reports are required.
Annual accomplishment and periodic financial reports are required.
In addition, a detail final report pertaining to program accomplishments is required.
Invoices should provide sufficient detail to document the amount requested for reimbursement.
Forest Service program staff will conduct monitoring activities to measure performance against established grant objectives.
Invoices should provide sufficient detail to document the amount requested for reimbursement.
Use form SF-425.
Forest Service program managers will conduct monitoring activities to measure performance against established grant objectives.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.
Records
All recipients need to maintain records adequate to collect and report statistical data. Forest Service or its designated representatives will have access to recipient records upon request.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1105-0-1-302.
Obigations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 16 $0; FY 17 est $0; and FY 18 Estimate Not Available - No available funding for annual competitive grant program.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range varies from $10,000 to $80,000. Average grant award is approximately $50,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
https://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/projects/werc/p_details.cfm?ID=31
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Wood Education and Resource Center, 301 Hardwood Lane, Princeton, WV 24740, Phone: (304) 487-1510; FAX: (304) 487-6661, E-mail: werc@fs.fed.us.
Headquarters Office
Steve Marshall, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: smarshall@fs.fed.us Phone: 202-205-1380
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
When budgets allow for a competitive grants program, an evaluation panel is convened on an annual basis to evaluate and rate proposals received. Proposals are evaluated on a number of criteria including alignment with WERC's mission and goals, focus on yearly priority items, clear deliverables, industry support, minimal duplication, length of time, multi-state project, and training.
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