TIMBER FOR TRANSIT

NBRC Grants Management System – For registration and pre-application review only. Application by invitation only, available April 15th.

Application Information Sessions (Catalyst, Forest Economy & Timber for Transit)

Vermont: April 11, 2024 11:00 AM – 12:30PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

New York: Apr 11, 2024 01:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Maine: April 12, 2024 9:30 AM – 11:00AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

New Hampshire: April 12, 2024 12:30PM – 2:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Go to the NBRC R esources Page for Grants Management Information

2024 TIMBER FOR TRANSIT PROGRAM OVERVIEW RELEASED - NBRC is making up to $25M available in federal resources through the Timber for Transit Program over the next three years. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Timber for Transit Program Information Sessions (Week of February 12, 2024)
These sessions will provide a more in-depth presentation of the Forest Economy Program and the Timber for Transit Program. These sessions will happen back-to-back to enable interested applicants to attend one or both program sessions. As with the state specific Catalyst Program information sessions, it is our goal for participants to leave these sessions with the information needed to prepare for the pre-application phase.

February 13, 2024 Timber for Transit Information Session:

Recorded Webinar: https://nbrc.box.com/s/xt2rqrof8vbs1nvaol1cridy8xkdjqxy
Slides: https://nbrc.box.com/s/ffo6ih3cepdsdmilxclxdix6t56j4mzi
Chat Q&A: https://nbrc.box.com/s/z987ef6a20v848wz5e9nwrxl3giyacob

In addition to these information sessions, NBRC will be scheduling additional program specific “office hour” sessions as well as special Grants Management System training sessions in late February/early March. Stay tuned for these details in the coming weeks.

The online pre-application system is not available yet. Interested applicants can be working outside of the system to develop waiver documentation, budget details, and responses to questions. Please see the summary guidance for accessing program materials and suggestions for developing pre-application information outside of the system below. Technical support resources for registering and accessing the system will be made available as well as technical support office hours. NBRC will announce when this information is available and post any updated resources to the program pages.

Next steps for developing pre-application materials outside of the online system:

1. Review the Waivers:

Evaluate if a waiver is required for your project. Guidance is available in the Program User Manual linked from the relevant program pages.
Prepare required narrative and documentation for applicable waivers.

2. Review budget information requirements:

Budget information requirements are described in information sessions. See recorded webinar or slides linked from the relevant program pages.
Template Budget Narrative are available on the NBRC resources website to support pre-application development.
Instructions for the SF424cbw detailed budget are available on the NBRC resources website as a reference to support budget development by category.

3. Review 5 Narrative questions:

Narrative questions and guidance are described in the information sessions. See recorded webinar or slides linked from the relevant program pages.
Prepare responses in word processing document to then copy and paste into pre-application.

Spring 2024 Timeline and Key Dates

Pre-Application (Required) Due on March 22, 2024, 5:00 pm EST
Application (By Invitation) Due on May 3, 2024, 5:00 pm EST

Fall 2024 Timeline and Key Dates

Pre-Application (Required) Due on September 6, 2024, 5:00 pm EST
Application (By Invitation) Due on October 18, 2024, 5:00 pm EST

A full PROGRAM TIMELINE is available.

The purpose of this funding is to advance the use of wood-based materials and composites (advanced wood materials) through applied research and demonstration projects that showcase the suitability of such materials to transportation and transportation adjacent infrastructure.

Highly competitive projects will demonstrate and widely promote the utility of high value forest products (e.g. glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, composite materials, etc.) in transportation infrastructure and commit to enhancing climate resilience in rural communities. Transportation infrastructure shall mean construction, alteration, or repair, for the purpose of transporting people and goods, including fixed installations and rights of way necessary for transporting from one point to another, including infrastructure that improves economic mobility for individuals, and may include roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals and terminals such as airports, railway stations, bus stations, parking, refueling depots, and seaports.

TIMBER FOR TRANSIT will support a broad range of feasibility and implementation projects including, but not limited to, state or regional inventory assessments of the suitability of wood components to address needed transportation infrastructure improvements and/or new construction; architectural and engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting necessary for implementation of transportation infrastructure projects; transportation infrastructure projects which utilize commercialized wood products and advanced wood materials to address climate adaptive transportation improvements; design and construction of pilot and demonstration projects that showcase the capabilities and benefits of utilizing advanced wood materials in transportation infrastructure; and transportation-adjacent structures that utilize advanced wood materials. Basic research projects will not be considered. Preference will be given to applied research and demonstration projects with a strong connection to industry.

TIMBER FOR TRANSIT will give preference to proposals that:

Commit to utilizing domestically sourced timber
Demonstrate evidence of planning for climate resiliency, including but not limited to carbon capture, increased frequency and intensity of storm events, and sea level rise.
Utilize projects as a tool for university and industry education and training
Demonstrates alignment with state and community initiatives.
Include promotion/publication/marketing as part of their project deliverables
Support, benefit, or engage communities that are historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by poverty or inequality (pursuant to Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government).

A pre-application is required to apply for Timber for Transit.

For those considering applications in 2024, complete the PROJECT INTEREST FORM and contact NBRC TIMBER FOR TRANSIT Program Manager Marina Bowie, mbowie@nbrc.gov 603.724.5802

Pre-Application Process: TIMBER FOR TRANSIT requires a pre-application. See the Timber for Transit Program TIMELINE for pre-application deadlines. The Timber for Transit Program USER MANUAL has detailed guidance for developing both a pre-application and application. Pre-applications will be submitted using the NBRC Grants Management System.

During the pre-application phase, projects will be reviewed for eligibility, maximum award amounts based on project classification, and relevance to program priorities. Projects that are determined to be eligible by NBRC and invited to apply will submit a full application.

Application Process: See the Timber for Transit TIMELINE for application deadlines. The Timber for Transit Program USER MANUAL has detailed guidance for developing both a pre-application and application. Applications will be submitted using the NBRC Grants Management System. Full applications will only be accepted from those entities expressly invited to apply and must be submitted using NBRC’s online application system.

Each full application will be scored based on the rating criteria developed for the Timber for Transit Program. The rating criteria to be used to award the maximum points is determined by how fully and thoroughly the applicant answers each item listed in each rating criteria. The Program Managers from the states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont will coordinate application scoring for each of the rating criteria and present results to the Commission. The Governor’s Alternates and the Federal Co-Chair will vote on the projects selected for funding . The rating criteria is detailed in the Timber for Transit Program USER MANUAL.

Location Eligibility Guidance:

The eligible NBRC service area includes 60 counties in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. If your project is in the service area, it may be eligible for NBRC funds. Locations outside the NBRC service area are NOT eligible to receive NBRC funds. Each county in the service area is classified as “distressed”, “transitional”, or “attainment” using pre-determined distress criteria. These designations determine if your project is eligible to receive NBRC funds and the associated match requirements

1. Projects located in counties classified as “distressed” and “transitional” are eligible to receive NBRC funds.

2. Attainment counties are generally NOT eligible to receive NBRC funds, with 2 exceptions.

Communities within an attainment county that have been designated as “Isolated Areas of Distress”. See the list of 2024 “Isolated Areas of Distress” county designations.
A project located in an Attainment county or outside of the NBRC region will bring significant economic benefits to an Isolated Area of Distress or a county designated as Distressed or Transitional. Contact NBRC directly to determine if your project is eligible under the significant benefits exception and guidance to complete a Significant Benefits Waiver using admin@nbrc.gov.

See the full list of counties and designations contained in the NBRC Distress Criteria.

Eligible Applicant Guidance:

State government (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York only)
Local governments (village, town, city and county)
Secondary and career technical centers
Other political subdivisions of States (regional planning commissions, authorities of the state)
Non-profit entities (see Program Manual for additional details)
Indian Tribes (federally recognized Indian tribes, see Program Manual for additional details)

For-profit entities, LLCs and other entities that are not a 501(c) are NOT eligible to apply for Timber for Transit Program funding.

Help NBRC share information on funding opportunities, award announcements and other exciting news. By signing up for NBRC Announcements, you’ll be sure to receive the latest information on the Timber for Transit Program. Sign up HERE.

TIMBER FOR TRANSIT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

TIMELINE

TIMBER FOR TRANSIT PROGRAM FAQ

TIMBER FOR TRANSIT PROGRAM USER MANUAL (Updated April 22, 2024)

NBRC DISTRESS CRITERIA