Wood Education And Resource Center (WERC) (10.681)

Program

10.681 Wood Education And Resource Center (WERC)

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Forest Service

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.

Program Number

10.681

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide funds, on a cost-share basis, for projects that focus on enhancing opportunities for sustained forest products production for primary and secondary hardwood industries located in the eastern hardwood forest region. In order to maintain and improve the health and stewardship of our eastern hardwood forests, local wood-using industries need to be vibrant and able to utilize a wide variety of resources from the forest. Priorities include: Maintain the economic competitiveness of hardwood industries. Examples include encouraging the adoption of new technology to improve competitiveness and profitability. Bring information and technology about processing, marketing and business-related skills to existing and emerging businesses involved in the development and manufacturing of wood products. Bring information and technology to existing and emerging businesses that focus on urban wood utilization, hazardous fuels reductions, utilization options geared to improving stewardship, forest health, or the use of low value woody biomass. Develop technology and markets to address emergency (global or domestic) issues including: 1. Phytosanitation of wood packaging materials, firewood and similar products to eliminate these pathways for the transport of insect and disease pests, and 2. Development of markets for and utilization of unpredicted increases in volume of urban and rural wood due to incidents like new pest introductions (e.g., Emerald ash borer) and weather events (e.g., tornados, ice storms). Increase the sustainable use of woody biomass to meet our nation's energy and raw materials needs. Examples include public/private partnerships for the use of 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 through the increased utilization of 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.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Discretionary)

Uses and Use Restrictions

Projects need to compliment 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. 100%.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

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; and others located in the 35 states of the eastern hardwood forest region including: AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

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 Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedure

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 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: Percent: 50.%.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are normally awarded for a period of 18 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Established in award terms.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Progress reports are not applicable. Invoices should provide sufficient detail to document the amount requested for reimbursement. Forest Service program managers will conduct monitoring activities to measure performance against established grant objectives.

Audits

No audits are required for this program.

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.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Between FY 05 and FY 08, 121 grants have been funded. Grant details can be viewed at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/projects.shtm. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1105-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 $1,600,000; FY 09 est $1,000,000; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range varies from $10,000 to $100,000. Average grant award is approximately $50,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-87 are applicable to State and Local Governments, A-110 and A-21 are applicable to educational institutions, and A-110 and A-122 are applicable to Nonprofit Organizations. USDA Implementing Regulations 7 CFR 3015, 3016, 3017, 3018, and 3019 also apply depending on the type of recipient. The program is announced through the Wood Education and Resource Center website and Grants.Gov website.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Patricia S. Palmer 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 707 RPE, Arlington, Virginia 22209 Email: patriciapalmer@fs.fed.us Phone: 7036054776

Web Site Address

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

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, training.