Forest Economy Program (FEP)

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

February 13, 2024 Forest Economy Program Information Session:

Recorded Webinar: https://nbrc.box.com/s/pod2w4tqw06mtjltrffyi75daok73i74
Slides: https://nbrc.box.com/s/h848fvjkswbvz3pwcbicxsditmms6tzz
Chat Q&A: https://nbrc.box.com/s/chhl8vb0kmpqjywzblxt1z7660vwtl1x

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 program is to support the forest-based economy, and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the 4-state NBRC region.

Successful projects support a broad range of forest-based economy initiatives such as, but not limited to, public infrastructure projects that directly support the forest industry; community development projects that support the diversified use of forest for economic activity; workforce training and development projects for the purpose of building the skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses; and marketing, communication and education projects that are paired with a public infrastructure, community development or workforce training or development project. Basic research projects will not be considered. Preference will be given to applied research and demonstration projects that demonstrate a strong connection to industry.

FEP will give preference to proposals that:

Invest in the development and commercialization of technologies that create and grow new markets for low-grade forest harvest residuals.
Invest in workforce recruitment, development, and training to increase job placement across the forest product continuum.
Help to sustain and grow existing forest industry businesses and operations, such as through technical assistance.
Aid in the revitalization of rural communities through the diversified use of northern border forests for economic activity to include wood products and advanced materials manufacturing, as well as for other economic activity that utilizes northern border forests sustainably for the production of wood products and advanced materials manufacturing.

Leverage existing (or, in some cases, new) partnerships to impact multiple counties, states and/or the entire NBRC region, and/or have the potential to do so.

A pre-application is required to apply for FEP.

For those considering applications in 2024, complete the PROJECT INTEREST FORM and contact the NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager Marina Bowie, the NBRC Program Manager in the State(s) where the proposed project will take place, and/or a Forest Economy Program Advisory Board member. These individuals will be happy to assist you as you develop your projects and applications:

NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager

Marina Bowie, mbowie@nbrc.gov 603.724.5802

NBRC State Program Managers

Maine: Charlotte Mace, charlotte.mace@maine.gov 207.624.7448

New Hampshire: Steven Fortier, steven.j.fortier@livefree.nh.gov 603.688.5918

Vermont: Kristie Farnham, kristie.farnham@vermont.gov 802.398.5268

New York: Kyle Wilber, kyle.wilber@dos.ny.gov 518.473.3694

Pre-Application Process: FEP requires a pre-application. See the FEP TIMELINE for pre-application deadlines. The FEP 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 evaluated for eligibility and relevance to the program. NBRC staff and an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from all four states will review pre-applications that are received on or prior to the deadline. The Advisory Board, in coordination with the NBRC State Program Managers, will prioritize the Advisory Board list and determine which projects will be invited to submit a full application.

Application Process: Projects that are deemed eligible by NBRC and invited to apply by the Advisory Board in the pre-application phase, will submit a full application. See the FEP TIMELINE for pre-application deadlines. The FEPM USER MANUAL has detailed guidance for developing both a pre-application and application. Applications will be submitted using the NBRC Grants Management System.

During the application phase, each full application will be scored based on the rating criteria developed for the Forest Economy Program. Project scoring 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. Projects that fall short of an 80-point threshold will not be considered for funding. The rating criteria is detailed in the FEP 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

Projects located in counties classified as “distressed” and “transitional” are eligible to receive NBRC funds.
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 Catalyst 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 Forest Economy Program. Sign up HERE.