NBRC's Forest Economy Program (FEP) is designed to support state-identified development plans for the regional forest economy and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models.
Forest Economy Program Priorities
This program supports the forest-based economy and assists 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 initiatives such as, but not limited to:
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Public infrastructure projects that directly support the forest industry;
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Community development projects that support the diversified use of forest for economic activity;
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Workforce training and development projects for the purpose of building the skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses, and;
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Marketing, communication and education projects that are paired with a public infrastructure, community development or workforce training or development project.
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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:
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Invest in the development and commercialization of technologies that create and grow new markets for low-grade forest harvest residuals.
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Invest in workforce recruitment, development, and training to increase job placement across the forest product continuum.
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Help to sustain and grow existing forest industry businesses and operations, such as through technical assistance.
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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.
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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.
For those considering applications in 2026, complete the Project Interest Form and contact the NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager Marina Caceres (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.
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Entities considering applications in 2026 can complete a Project Interest Form and contact the NBRC Forest Economy Program Manager Marina Caceres (Bowie), the NBRC Program Manager in the Member State(s) where the proposed project will take place, and/or a Forest Economy Program Advisory Board member. The Project Interest Form is not the pre‑application. It simply alerts NBRC and your State Program Manager that you intend to apply, and it should accompany any request for early project feedback. |
| Forest Economy Program Overview | Forest Economy Program One Pager | Project Interest Form | Advisory Board Member List |
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