Wood Innovation Grant Fuels a Regional Timber Push
A new Wood Innovation Grant from the U.S. Forest Service will help Dovetail Partners, MassTimber@MSU at Michigan State University, and Team Pennsylvania advance the next phase of the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative. The award, announced Aug. 18, 2026, from East Lansing, Michigan, supports mass timber markets, manufacturing capacity, and forest-health-aligned wood products across the region. As a result, growers, foresters, and rural communities across eight states stand to benefit.
The grant is part of the Forest Service’s national investment of $105.5 million in wood innovation, community wood, and wood products infrastructure grants. That funding supports 177 projects nationwide. Additionally, these projects strengthen rural economies, expand markets for low-value wood, and improve forest health. For farmers and landowners, that mix of goals matters, because healthy forests depend on a healthy forest products economy.
How the Wood Innovation Grant Expands Timber Markets
The Wood Innovations Grant Program invests in proposals that expand traditional wood utilization projects. Furthermore, it promotes wood as a construction material in commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings. Meanwhile, the program works to expand wood energy markets. Because these efforts support local economies, they also contribute directly to forest health and reduce wildfire risks near communities.
Mass timber, for those new to the term, uses layers of wood bonded into large, strong panels and beams. Builders use these engineered pieces to construct tall, durable structures. Consequently, mass timber creates new demand for regional timber while offering a lower-carbon alternative to concrete and steel.
Eight States Build a Coordinated Timber Economy
MassTimber@MSU founded the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative in 2024. The effort brings together leaders from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Together, they aim to build a coordinated regional mass timber economy.
More than 100 participants convened in April 2026 to mark the release of the Collaborative’s Regional Vision. That document outlines priorities for supply-chain development, manufacturing expansion, workforce training, and project-level technical assistance.
“The Regional Vision reflects the knowledge, goals, and analysis of people across the mass timber chain — from forests to manufacture to research to buildings — in all eight Great Lakes states,” said Sandra Lupien, director of MassTimber@MSU. “This wood innovation grant enables us to start implementing that vision on the ground by identifying priorities in forests and matching them with opportunities in products and construction.” Lupien founded the Collaborative and will continue to lead it into its next phase.
A $600,000 Investment Behind the Wood Innovation Grant
Dovetail Partners serves as the Collaborative’s fiscal sponsor. Therefore, it provides administrative and financial oversight, along with staff expertise, to support the regional strategy. “It is an honor for Dovetail Partners to be able to provide a home for this work to continue,” said Kathryn Fernholz, president and CEO. “We’ve been involved with supporting the realization of benefits from mass timber since the early days, and we’re excited to see momentum continue to build.”
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is strengthening the region’s mass timber ecosystem through a $300,000 matching commitment. That match complements the $300,000 grant. As a result, the combined $600,000 investment enables Dovetail, MassTimber@MSU, Team Pennsylvania, and GLMTC partners to advance coordinated supply-chain mapping.
The money also supports technical assistance for emerging mass timber projects. Additionally, partners will assess manufacturing expansion opportunities, including hardwood mass timber products. Finally, the group plans to develop shared tools and case studies that reduce barriers to adoption. These efforts position the region to help lead a national shift toward sustainable construction and forest-aligned economic development.
What the Wood Innovation Grant Means for Pennsylvania
Team Pennsylvania sees the partnership as a way to connect forests, factories, and workers. “Pennsylvania is positioned to be a leader in the growing mass timber economy by connecting our forest resources, manufacturing expertise, workforce and innovation assets,” said Abby Smith, president and CEO of Team Pennsylvania.
“The Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative is exactly the kind of partnership that can turn that opportunity into action,” Smith added. “By working across state lines and bringing together leaders from industry, government and academia, we can establish lasting economic opportunities for communities across the commonwealth.”
Why This Wood Innovation Grant Matters Going Forward
The Wood Innovation Grant marks a practical step toward turning regional timber ambitions into real projects. It links forest management with manufacturing and construction, therefore creating potential markets for lower-value wood that landowners often struggle to sell. For farmers, foresters, and rural businesses, that connection could mean new revenue and steadier demand.
Readers should watch how the Collaborative maps supply chains and advances hardwood mass timber products in the months ahead. Because the work spans eight states, its progress may shape how other regions approach timber. Ultimately, this Wood Innovation Grant could help redefine sustainable building while supporting healthier forests and stronger rural economies.
Source: ANR Communications, Michigan State University; contact Sandra Lupien, Director of MassTimber@MSU.
Learn more about the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative and its partners by contacting Sandra Lupien, Director of MassTimber@MSU, at lupiensa@msu.edu or 510-681-3171.