Applications are being accepted for 2023 Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grants, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced Monday.

A press release from the department encourages Alaskans from Tribal Nations, local communities, businesses and groups to apply for a share of $41 million in federal funding, in part contributed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

The grant programs are intended to “expand the use of wood products and strengthen emerging wood energy markets from materials removed from unhealthy, overgrown forests.”

According to the release, the programs have supplied approximately $4.77 million to 21 Alaska recipients since 2013.

The Wood Innovations Grant Program seeks to fund expansion of wood use projects, advance wood energy markets, and promote wood use in construction of commercial buildings. The release said that a special focus is put on projects that reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health, reduce costs of forest management, or promote “economically strong and environmentally healthy communities.”

The Community Wood Grant Program funds “shovel-ready” projects to develop thermally led community energy systems or to build wood product facilities — intended to stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy and manufacturing.

Applications can be submitted to the Forest Service for both the Wood Innovations Grant Program and the Community Wood Grant Program until March 23 at 5 p.m.

Full details of both grants can be found at grants.gov.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.