U.S. Endowment, Author at U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc.

Forest Economy Initiative Helps Launch New Products, Spurs $14 Million Private Investment in Sector

Funded Projects Support Market Demand for 8 Million Tons of Northern Forest Wood

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Mar. 21, 2024 – New products from a centuries-old industry are making their way to the marketplace. This is thanks to a five-year initiative designed to generate market demand for sustainably sourced wood from the Northern Forest of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.

The Future Forest Economy Initiative (FFEI) funded 13 projects that generated substantial economic development opportunities within the region’s forest sector and in economically distressed rural communities across the area.

“The initiative succeeded by all measures,” said Joe Short, vice president of the Northern Forest Center. “What is inspiring is the innovative and viable new products and market development ideas proposed by the grantees and how they all contribute to strengthening the forest economy.”

The FFEI-funded projects benefitted 219 businesses across the forest supply chain, improved the quality of 1,500 jobs, leveraged more than $14 million in private investment into the forest economy and funded projects that support market demand for more than 8 million tons of wood from the region.

The initiative — a cooperative effort of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities (the Endowment) and the Northern Forest Center (Center) — grew out of a congressional mandate to support the development of markets for wood products.

“We had specific investment objectives and these projects really hit the mark,” said Alicia Cramer, senior vice president of the Endowment. “They’ve produced new products, strengthened the supply chain, shown the viability and economic potential of new product ideas and reinforced the ability of area manufacturers to capitalize on new market opportunities.”

As a result of FFEI’s investments, the construction industry can now use structural round timber from Maine or buy certified cross-laminated timber made from the region’s softwoods. Businesses also have access to a small-scale fiberboard manufacturing line at the University of Maine during the research and development phase of creating new wood-fiber-based products.

FFEI supported every part of the forest economy supply chain. It increased certified wood supply by expanding master logger certification, promoted the reuse of old mills to attract private investment and educated millions of consumers about using wood heat instead of fossil fuels.

“The forest sector is crucial to the region’s economy and combating climate change,” said Short. “The data shows us that we make the greatest headway against climate change when we use forests for both storing carbon and producing renewable wood products. We are backing sustainably harvested wood products, which create market demand and incentivize forest conservation.”

For one of its first projects, the FFEI provided funding for the Town of Ashland, Maine, to build market demand for using nearly whole trees from sustainably managed Maine forests instead of steel and concrete in construction. The project has identified $8 million in potential sales for structural round timber. WholeTrees Structures of Madison, Wis., has opened a production facility in Ashland, aiming to create six to eight full-time positions this year and double that by 2026.

The initiative also funded market studies that showed promise for several new ventures. This includes manufacturing net-zero homes made primarily of wood products from Maine, using low-grade wood in textiles to displace petroleum-based material and using domestic wood on military vehicles in place of tropical species.

The FFEI grew out of a congressional mandate to support the development of markets for wood products. The EDA provided $3 million to fund the market-development initiative. The Center managed the five-year initiative and provided strategic support to help grantees expand their networks and develop connections critical to the success of their projects. The Endowment committed $300,000 toward the project and advanced payments to grantees to decrease the gap between project expenditures and reimbursement.

About The Northern Forest Center:
The Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation and investment partner creating rural vibrancy by connecting people and economy to the forested landscape. www.northernforest.org.

About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities:
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity collaborating with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. To learn more about the Endowment, please visit our website at www.usendowment.org.

Media Contacts:

For more information contact:
Joe Short, Vice President, Northern Forest Center, 603-491-2651, jshort@northernforest.org

Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, 205-792-8650, alicia@usendowment.org

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 8, 2019)

The Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program’s fourth year of awards further accelerates the pace of proactive watershed protection in the U.S., benefiting drinking water supplies, freshwater systems, and floodplains. The program supports working forest and ranchland protection, innovative finance in collaboration with water utilities, and capacity for local and regional watershed groups. New themes this year include collaborations with Soil and Water Conservation Districts, support for community forests, and Sentinel Landscape Partnerships.

The nine awards total $1.52 million and will benefit organizations and partnerships in eight states. The Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program was conceived by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (EPA) and launched in late 2015. EPA co-funds the program with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U. S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment), which manages the partnership.

“In partnership with EPA and NRCS, the Endowment is helping local communities protect and better manage the working forests and ranchlands that provide drinking water, rural economic opportunities, and wildlife habitat. One project even helps sustain military readiness by accelerating protection of working lands near Camp Ripley in Minnesota. We are grateful to EPA, NRCS, and our local partners for their vision and collaboration,” said Carlton Owen, the Endowment’s President and CEO.

The Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program’s goal is to “accelerate and expand the strategic protection of healthy, freshwater ecosystems and their watersheds.” EPA and the Endowment each committed $3.75 million and NRCS $3.5 million, to the six-year partnership. In this fourth year of the program, 48 applications requesting $9 million were received.

Grants focus on three categories: 1) short-term funding to leverage larger financing for targeted watershed protection; 2) funds to help build the capacity of local organizations for sustainable, long-term watershed protection; and 3) new techniques or approaches that advance the state of practice for watershed protection and that can be replicated across the country. The awards listed below benefit natural lands as well as working forests, farms, and ranches.

The nine funded proposals are:

Florida: Aucilla River Watershed Conservation Initiative – $171,000 over two years to Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy to 1) complete existing land conservation transactions for high priority properties in the floodplain of the Aucilla watershed in Florida and Georgia, 2) strengthen a coalition of partners, 3) develop a watershed-based land conservation prioritization analysis, 4) secure land protection funds from state and federal sources, and 5) build endowment support for continued long-term investment in protection of the watershed.

Florida: Accelerating Land Protection in Florida’s Santa Fe River Basin – $166,000 awarded to Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) over two years to support a full-time Coordinator and additional staff capacity to protect land in north Florida’s Santa Fe River basin, a true Florida treasure with over 90 freshwater springs. Healthy Watersheds funding will ensure ACT’s ability to focus and invest existing land conservation funding, coordinate land acquisition and conservation easements, as well as conduct expanded outreach in the Santa Fe River Basin.

Minnesota: Mississippi River Headwaters Watershed Accelerated Land Protection Program – $150,000 awarded over two years to the Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District. The Mississippi River Headwaters Watershed has some of the highest quality resources in the state of Minnesota. The Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District and partners developed a forest stewardship protection program to help conserve 75% of the watershed and protect its high-quality natural resources.

Minnesota: Building Capacity for Land Protection in the Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape – $72,000 for two years to the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District to hire a private lands biologist. This project directly supports the Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, which involves the Departments of Defense, Interior, and Agriculture. This position will increase the pace of protection by about 900 acres annually by securing conservation easements and facilitating further contract enhancement plans through various partner programs.

Arkansas: Unlocking Private Finance to Protect Central Arkansas’ Drinking Water – $220,000 over two years to Central Arkansas Water (CAW) to work with World Resources Institute and Encourage Capital to unlock private capital for Lake Maumelle watershed source water protection by leveraging current watershed fees, grant funding, and carbon credits for better access to Program Related investments (PRI) and green bonds. The project will explore a new potential model for other utilities to address their source water protection funding challenges.

Texas: Texas Hill Country Conservation Network: Scaling Conservation in Central Texas – $120,000 over two years to the Hill Country Alliance to grow the regional capacity needed for large-scale, long-term healthy watershed protection across 550,000 acres in the Guadalupe-Blanco river basins in Comal and Hays counties in Central Texas, affecting drinking water and natural resources for millions of Texans. A coalition will accelerate land conservation, build financing models to fund land protection, create a shared regional land conservation strategy, initiate a rapid-response fund for emergent land conservation opportunities, and seek to protect 30,000 acres of key watershed lands in this rapidly urbanizing region.

Montana: Connecting and Supporting MT Stakeholder Enrollment in Protection Programs – $199,000 over two years to the Montana Conservation Corps to increase landowner engagement through its Ranching for Rivers and Croplands to Grasslands Programs within the Missouri River Watershed. The initiative will support implementation of effective, community-driven grazing plans and common-sense-driven stewardship of native grasslands with a long-term goal of securing perpetual conservation easements along 1 million acres of riparian corridors throughout the plains of Central and Eastern Montana.

California: Healthy Watersheds California – $225,000 over two years to Pacific Forest Trust to develop the policies, technical assessments, implementation plans, and financing needed to restore California’s key source watersheds. The project aims to improve the climate resilience and reliability of the state’s water supply system through landscape-scale restoration and conservation, increasing water security for millions of Californians, and protecting critical wildlife habitat. This grant will help leverage private and public capital to enable the comprehensive protection and stewardship of these forested watersheds, defining these 7 million acres as essential infrastructure for the state’s water system.

Oregon: Oregon Coast Community Forest Initiative- $200,000 over two years to Sustainable Northwest to build capacity to help protect up to 50 municipal drinking water source areas along Oregon’s Coast. Partners will map, plan, and implement conservation transactions including community forests as a tool for watershed protection. The initiative will also help inform and contribute to the development of a 100-year resilient water strategy for the State of Oregon.

For more information on the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program, visit: https://www.usendowment.org/what-we-do/non-traditional-markets/healthy-watersheds-consortium/

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For more information contact:
Peter Stangel, Chief Operating Officer, 404-915-2763, peter@usendowment
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities – www.usendowment.org

Enviva Forest Conservation Fund Helps Land Trust Protect Sensitive Wetland Forests

Land Slated to Expand the Croatan National Forest

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 2, 2019)

Greenville, S.C. – An important watershed forest, adjacent to the Croatan National Forest on the coast of North Carolina, will soon be conserved, thanks in part to a grant to the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust (Land Trust) from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (Fund). The Land Trust received a $30,000 grant toward the acquisition of 181 acres of forestland, a rich ecosystem consisting of pond pine woodland, pocosin wetland habitat, bottomland hardwoods, and longleaf pine.

The property is bordered on three sides by the Croatan National Forest in Craven County and includes a tributary of the Trent River in the Neuse River Basin, an important watershed to the mostly rural area, known for both timber and agriculture. The Land Trust plans to offer the property as a donation to the USDA Forest Service (USFS), and if accepted, will be managed as part of the Croatan National Forest, which is similar in habitat value.

“We are thrilled to be able to acquire this forestland – an important watershed ecosystem that includes both pine and hardwood,” said Camilla Herlevich, Executive Director of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust. “The tract will be forever preserved and will remain a healthy habitat for wildlife. We are grateful to Enviva for their contribution to our conservation mission.”

“Thanks to this purchase this land now will be managed in perpetuity as forest, rather than being converted to agriculture or other non-forest uses,” said Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the U. S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities which administers the Fund. “Moreover, if accepted by the USFS, the land will expand one of the most important public spaces in the region.”

The Fund’s goal is to be a catalyst for investments in forest and habitat conservation in the southeastern Virginia region and North Carolina’s coastal plain. More than three years into the planned 10-year partnership, 13 projects have been funded with a total commitment of over $1.5 million, including the grant announced today. When these projects are completed, the Fund will have helped protect an estimated 17,000 acres of sensitive wetland forest and other habitats.

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About the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is a $5 million, 10-year program established by Enviva Holdings, LP in December 2015 to protect environmentally sensitive bottomland and wetland forests. Administered by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Fund awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for conservation projects in North Carolina and Virginia. http://envivaforestfund.org/

About North Carolina Coastal Land Trust Founded in 1992, the mission of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is to enrich the coastal communities of North Carolina through conservation of natural areas and working landscapes, education, and the promotion of good land stewardship. The Coastal Land Trust has become the largest land trust geographically in the state of North Carolina, serving 31 counties along the entire coastal plain. The Coastal Land Trust is committed to saving and restoring special places in the coastal plain like barrier islands, nature parks and preserves, family farms, and longleaf pine forests. To learn more about the Coastal Land Trust, please visit their website at www.coastallandtrust.org.

For more information contact: Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, (205) 792-865, alicia@runslikeclock.work

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities – www.usendowment.org

Transitioning from Pilot to Operational under Stewardship by American Forest Foundation

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 25, 2019) The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) today announced that it would soon begin a long-planned transition of its highly-successful Sustainable Forestry and African-American Land Retention (SFLR) program to the American Forest Foundation (AFF). Launched in 2012 as a partnership between the Endowment, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and USDA Forest Service (USFS), SFLR has yielded significant results in helping to stem land loss, increase forest health, and build financial assets in the African-American landowner community across the southeastern U.S.

The program’s successful work across seven – soon to be eight – states was founded on the great work of African-American-led community-based organizations with strong connections to minority families and institutions. These organizations built relationships of trust, assisted and educated landowners about opportunities, brokered forestry services, and monitored landowner progress toward sustainable forest management. Their work has helped minority forest owners not only retain their land but also become advocates for working forests to their neighbors.

As a catalytic organization – one that helps study and test solutions to needs in the forest sector – rather than an operating foundation that manages programs over the long-term, the Endowment has from the outset planned for SFLR to ultimately be nested within an organization that shared the vision and had alignment and ability to provide on-going program leadership and stewardship. As part of this growth and to ensure a smooth transition, the seven grassroots organizations that are leading the work on the ground have formed a management network in collaboration with the Endowment, AFF, agency partners, and other philanthropic and industrial partners to take the program to the next level.

“Nothing gives our team more satisfaction than seeing that one of our collaborative efforts has achieved the power of the original vision and reached the point that it can be transitioned from a pilot to a vibrant, self-sustaining program,” said Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the Endowment. “The success of SFLR to date is indicative of the vision and commitment to overcome and reverse decades of exclusion that have left African-American forest landowners at high risk of losing their land while at the same time preventing them from seeing the power of that asset to benefit their families economically.”

Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation shared, “Sustainable forestry provides a way for African-American landowners, many of whom have owned their land for generations, to maintain their deep ties with the land while at the same time deriving income from it and keeping it in the family for generations to come. AFF is honored and excited to be part of the next chapter of SFLR’s growth and success.”

“Often black landowners aren’t quite sure how to manage their land or deal with heirs’ property issues (lands pass down without a will and/or clear title). Our work through SFLR has helped Georgia landowners with land retention, forest protection and preservation, owners’ stewardship plans, timber harvesting, estate resolution, wildlife management, and soil conservation,” said John Littles, Executive Director of McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (McIntosh SEED) and one of the SFLR leadership team members. “The best thing about this program is that it grows itself: once landowners see the value in participating, they share the news with their friends and neighbors.”

As of December 31, 2018, 1,076 black families collectively owning 77,095 acres were enrolled in SFLR programs across seven states. These landowners receive services to restore forest health, resolve land tenure issues and threats, and sustainably build land-based family wealth. As part of the AFF family, the SFLR program will build on its strong foundation, reaching more landowners for continued growth and success as we all work to diversify the ranks and extend the benefits of forest stewardship to more American families of all creeds and colors.

Over the past year two major foundations have joined in funding SFLR’s on-the-ground partners – North Carolina-based Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and effective on May 1, The JPB Foundation. Alicia Cramer, the Endowment’s Senior Vice President who oversees SFLR noted, “We couldn’t be more thankful for these new funders who’ve joined the ranks of those who share a common vision of helping minority landowners achieve their land retention and stewardship goals. With their support along with that of our federal, state, and local partners, and under AFF’s capable leadership, SFLR is well positioned for continued success.”

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The American Forest Foundation (AFF), a forest conservation organization, focuses on family forest owners, providing resources that support good stewardship through outreach, advocacy and its nationwide network of landowners and partners. Working with families, partners and elected officials, AFF promotes stewardship to keep forests healthy and producing clean water and air, wildlife habitat and sustainable wood supplies. AFF’s signature program, the American Tree Farm System® is the country’s largest sustainable woodland program with a network of 71,000 family forest owners managing 19 million acres of forestland. www.forestfoundation.org

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. www.usendowment.org

For more information contact:
Carlton N. Owen, President & CEO, 864-233-7646, carlton@runslikeclock.work

Enviva Forest Conservation Fund Helps Protect Threatened Habitat and High-Quality Watershed in Virginia

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 23, 2019)

Greenville, S.C. – A critical habitat for a threatened bat species will be preserved thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund (the Fund) to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF). The award will go towards a $750,000 project to acquire and establish a conservation easement for the “Shand’s Tract,” 8,000 feet of frontage along the Nottoway River, as well as 425 acres of cypress and tupelo swampland. In addition to helping protect the tract, Enviva funds will be used to enhance public access by supporting the acquisition of a boat ramp which will be owned by the town of Courtland, Virginia, giving the public permanent access to the waterway.

The unique cypress swamp forest that will be preserved is of high ecological and conservation value. These bottomlands provide shelter for several species of bats most impacted by the white-nose syndrome; a fungal disease associated with the death of millions of bats. During late spring and summer, bats rely on the large mature trees for roosting and for rearing their young. The bats also provide a natural and economic benefit to farmers and foresters in the community by consuming tons of harmful insects and pests.

“Our mission at VOF is to encourage investment to promote the preservation of the many natural, scenic, historical, scientific, open-space and recreational areas of the Commonwealth,” said Brett Christina Glymph, Executive Director of the VOF. “In addition to providing a home for the bats, the riparian river frontage is a high priority watershed, as it is home to at least two documented threatened aquatic species and multiple neo-tropical and migratory bird species. We so appreciate the funding made available through the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund to conserve important habitats like this one in our state, as well as all of our partners in this project, including Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.”

“At the Endowment, we are committed to both forests and the people that rely on them,” said Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the U. S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. “These forests that will be protected are of significant value not only because they are home to threatened and endangered species, but because they also provide flood mitigation services and contribute to the quality of life for the communities that surround them.”

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About Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is Virginia’s leader in land conservation, protecting nearly 850,000 acres in 109 counties and independent cities. VOF was established by the Virginia legislature in 1966 “to promote the preservation of open-space lands and to encourage private gifts of money, securities, land or other property to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, scientific, open-space and recreational areas of the Commonwealth.”

www.virginiaoutdoorsfoundation.org

For more information contact: Alicia Cramer, Senior Vice President, (205) 792-865, alicia@runslikeclock.work

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 16, 2019)

The U.S. Endowment with its partner the USDA Forest Service will host a webinar on Friday, April 26 at 2:00 PM Eastern to answer questions and discuss objectives for the Mass Timber University Grant Program (Grant Program) and related Request for Proposals (RFP) to promote the construction of mass timber buildings on institutions of higher education campuses across the U.S. The intent of the Grant Program is to inspire interest in and support for mass timber products among the architectural, developer and building communities as well as the public, by showcasing them in highly-visible projects on university campuses. The webinar will be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the funders objectives for the program.

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For more information contact:
Michael Goergen, Vice President – Innovation, 864-233-7646, michael@runslikeclock.work
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities – www.usendowment.org

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 4, 2019) – Attracting the next generation of natural resource professionals and specifically consulting foresters is challenging. Ensuring that the next generation of professionals reflects the rich diversity found among family forest owners across the U.S. is even more so.

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) today announced the launch of its pilot “People of Color in Forestry Consulting Apprenticeship Program,” to expand the number of minorities among the ranks of consulting foresters.

The program is being field tested under an agreement between the Endowment and Wiregrass Ecological Associates, LLC (WEA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Forestry Consultants, Inc. (SFC). As part of the agreement, and to ensure the program begins on solid footing, the Endowment will provide WEA with a no interest loan of up to $50,000 over three years to aid in covering start-up costs while the first apprentice gains experience and builds the business. In addition, the Endowment will engage with both WEA and the apprentice to glean learnings that will allow program enhancements and the sharing of best practices with the broader community. In turn, WEA will engage the apprentice at a family-supporting wage, work with the candidate to develop and implement a robust training program, and provide feedback to the Endowment.

“Years of investment in our highly-successful Sustainable Forestry and African-American Land Retention Program designed to expand the ranks of black families engaged in active forest management, highlighted the disparity of minorities in the ranks of consulting foresters. Increasing the number of foresters and forestry technicians representing various people of color not only increases the number of bright young natural resource professionals overall – which is greatly needed – but it also increases the likelihood that more minority landowners will become interested and engaged in forest management,” said Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the Endowment. “When all is said and done, a talented and diverse army of consultants benefits both forests and the communities that rely on them.”

“The most common approach to trying to fill the void in foresters of color has been to establish recruiting programs and scholarships at forestry schools. And yet, even the most aggressive programs have had limited success,” said Austin Carroll, WEA Vice-President and Partner with SFC. “Moreover, emerging or recent graduates are often quickly snapped up by federal or state natural resources agencies or private companies. Our intent in partnering with the Endowment on this innovative program is to provide targeted training and support for promising young professionals to aid in early career development in consulting. We are excited to be the first company to take part in this important initiative to diversify our ranks and extend the reach of services to more landowners.”

Michael Wetzel, President of the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), noted, “The Endowment’s Apprenticeship program appears to be a great opportunity to engage people of color in the practice of professional consulting forestry. ACF welcomes such a program with hopes that we can aid in the development of such individuals while serving as a conduit for employment opportunities.”

The first apprentice in the program joined WEA on April 1. After working through the logistics of the pilot with WEA and the first participant, the Endowment’s Board will review results as it considers expanding the program with other firms and candidates interested in pursuing forestry consulting as a career.

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For more information contact:

Carlton N. Owen, President & CEO, 864-233-7646, carlton@runslikeclock.work The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-rich communities – www.usendowment.org

About Wiregrass Ecological Associates, LLC (WEA)

Wiregrass Ecological Associates is a leading environmental and ecological consultancy that delivers efficient and timely results for a wide variety of restoration ecology, wildlife management, and environmental compliance projects. Their team of certified wildlife and fisheries biologists, foresters, and ecologists offers a diverse suite of services that includes species and habitat conservation planning, natural resource management, forest ecology, lake management, aquatic ecology, and much more. WEA is committed to providing integrated solutions on complex ecological issues for clients in a variety of industries and market sectors. – www.wiregrassecological.com

About Southern Forestry Consultants, Inc. (SFC)

Southern Forestry Consultants is a forestry and natural resource consulting firm for landowners in the southeastern United States since 1987. SFC develops practical strategies to solve unique challenges through forest management, geospatial solutions, ecological consulting, and land sales. Their forestry and ecological consultants combine deep expertise and professionalism with innovative technologies to help clients manage their sustainable forestry and land management projects. SFC is dedicated to the planning and implementation of customized strategies to improve the land, timber, water, and wildlife resources entrusted to their care. – www.soforest.com

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (MARCH 19, 2019)

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment), in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (USFS), today announced the initiation of the Mass Timber University Grant Program (Grant Program) and related Request for Proposals (RFP) to promote the construction of mass timber buildings on institutions of higher learning campuses across the U.S. The intent of the Grant Program is to inspire interest in and support for mass timber products among the architectural, developer and building communities as well as the public, by showcasing them in highly-visible projects on university campuses.

“Increased use of mass timber in construction is a triple win: for our nation’s forests, our rural economies, and builders. Demand for sustainably-sourced wood helps provide a market incentive for forest retention, management and stewardship activities that reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire,” said Steve Marshall, Assistant Director of Cooperative Forestry, USFS. “Colleges and universities are building at an incredible rate and we want to support their use of mass timber while educating the next generation of decision-makers about sustainable building solutions that support our forests.”

The goals of this Grant Program are threefold: to break through barriers related to designing and constructing a cost competitive, code compliant mass timber building; to showcase the viability, application, repeatability, and sustainability of mass timber construction across the country; and to clearly illustrate the direct link between the use of mass timber components and the health and resiliency of U.S. forests and economic development opportunities in rural communities.

“Mass timber demonstration projects are important in that they increase understanding at the local permitting and approval agencies, as well as with design practitioners, developers and construction contractors, around the beauty and versatility of these products,” said Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the Endowment. “Such demonstration projects will help speed adoption of recent code changes approved by the International Code Council that will allow mass timber applications in building up to 18 stories tall from the current six-story limit.”

The funds available will support costs associated with pioneering the use of mass timber products and systems in buildings and open the door for more widespread adoption of these innovative building materials. The intent is to assist with off-setting costs often associated with review and planning for emerging building technologies whether in new construction or retrofit projects. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education (e.g., universities, colleges, technical schools) and their design and construction partners. Proposal submission deadline is May 31, 2019, and award announcements will be made around August 1, 2019. More details and the RFP application can be found at the Endowment’s RFP page.

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For more information contact:

Carlton N. Owen
President & CEO
+1-864-233-7646
carlton@runslikeclock.work

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities – www.usendowment.org

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (February 27, 2019)

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) today announced the launch of the first in a series of podcasts – a team effort with Leadership Nature Podcast – to highlight the people and successes of the Sustainable Forestry and African-American Land Retention program (SFLR). A partnership between the Endowment and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA Forest Service (USFS), the SFLR program was established in 2013 as an effort to aid African-American landowners in turning their forested properties into economic assets. The program capitalizes on innovative partnerships between local, state, and federal organizations to assist landowners in this process.

Hosted by leadership expert and forester, Tom Davidson, the Leadership Nature podcast features voices from “every neck of the woods” in forestry and natural resources. The SFLR Series – Season Seven – of the podcast features the landowners, educators, and administrators of the SFLR program and will include perspectives of those who have built, participated in, and benefitted from this award-winning program. Every Wednesday, another member of the SFLR community will be featured and will share their lessons of leadership, teamwork, and stewardship. The Endowment’s President and CEO Carlton Owen was interviewed on the Leadership Nature podcast in September 2016.

“The success of SFLR stems directly from the people who have been an integral part of the program. We are incredibly proud to have supported SFLR in partnership with the great folks at NRCS and USFS since its inception,” said Endowment Senior Vice President Alicia Cramer. “This podcast series provides first-hand perspectives on how SFLR empowers African-American families and communities to retain rural family land ownership, enhance forest health, and build intergenerational wealth.”

SFLR offers a variety of support to landowners, including access to legal assistance and opportunities for sustainable forestry. To date, the program has supported eight project sites in seven states and more than 1,000 landowners. The participants own a combined 77,095 acres, and the project is focused on helping them retain that ownership. In July 2018, the program received the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The award recognizes exemplary partnerships between foundations and government that have been critical in transforming communities and improving lives.

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U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (February 19, 2019) – The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) announced today the launch of its new website. The new site features a clean, uncluttered design, improved functionality and enhanced rich content focused on the Endowment’s mission – to work collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. The website goes live today, February 19, and is located at the same address: www.usendowment.org

“We are excited about the visually compelling story this website tells about the many initiatives, landscapes, and communities we touch through our programs and partnerships,” says Carlton Owen, Endowment President & CEO. “We hope that visitors gain an appreciation for the breadth and depth of our ongoing work for forests and the rural communities that rely on them.”

In addition to easy navigability, the new website features quick access to information on Endowment grants and current Requests for Proposals (RFPs), with a direct link on the homepage to any open RFPs. Currently, the 2019 Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is open and closes February 28, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. EST as is the call for proposals for the inaugural Forest Innovation Reviews (FIRz). Additionally, The Longleaf Ecosystem Occurrence Database – Field Data Collection RFP closes March 18, 2019.

The new website will be updated on a regular basis with news of project and partnership announcements, program updates, and other relevant topics. It also provides the Endowment’s latest Tweets on Twitter and a link to the recently completed interactive guide, State of America’s Forests. The website also highlights the stunning nature photography of Greenville, SC-based Mac Stone. Stone’s photographs of forested landscapes capture the underlying motivation of the Endowment’s work: healthy, productive working forests for people and the environment.

Explore the new website and sign up for direct emails from the Endowment at www.usendowment.org, as well as follow the Endowment on Twitter at: twitter.com/USEndowment.

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