Press Releases
04/02/2026
DEEP Announces Receipt of Wood Innovation Grants
Federal Grants Will Support Connecticut’s Economy and Protect Forests
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced it has received two competitive Wood Innovation Grants totaling $750,000 through the United States Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant Program. The grants will support initiatives that strengthen Connecticut’s forest products industry while promoting responsible forest management.
The DEEP Forestry Division’s objective is to promote healthy and diverse forest ecosystems. Forests enhance water and air quality, while providing habitats for native species that are threatened or endangered. Our forests also offer recreational opportunities, a sustainable source of wood products used locally and around the world, and carbon sequestration and storage.
“These innovative grants promote responsible forest management practices that protect wetlands while also supporting a local value chain for wood products,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Wood is approximately 50 percent carbon, and locally sourced, durable wood products act as long-term carbon storage, helping to support Connecticut’s broader climate goals.
Branding the Future of Connecticut's Forest Products: Connecticut's Wood Utilization Team
With one grant, DEEP will establish a Wood Utilization Team to promote the use of Connecticut-grown forest products among residents, businesses, and local communities. The team will develop a website to provide a centralized resource for Connecticut’s forest products industry.
The website will connect “primary producers” (e.g, sawmills) and “secondary producers” (e.g., furniture manufacturers) participating in the CT Grown Forest Products Program, provide a directory of active wood product producers across the state, and offer a single location for posting Requests for Proposals across forest industry sectors. The site will also serve as an educational resource and job board for employers and job seekers interested in careers in the forest products industry.
To further promote Connecticut-grown wood products, producers will have access to “CT Grown” branding irons and promotional tents featuring approved Connecticut Grown Forest Products logos. Participating producers also will be highlighted in Connecticut Grown Magazine. The total award to DEEP under this grant is $249,610.
Support for Best Management Practices in Timber Harvesting to Protect Forested Wetlands and Watercourses
With the second grant, DEEP will provide financial assistance to members of the Connecticut Professional Timber Producers Association, also known as Timpro, through a rent-to-own program for more than 500 timber mats and up to five sets of temporary steel bridges. A timber mat is a heavy-duty, portable, and reusable platform constructed from bolted hardwood timbers designed to provide machinery with stable access over muddy or wet ground. Steel bridges are similarly used to protect watercourses that must be crossed by machinery during a harvest. These materials reduce erosion, protect wildlife, and allow timber harvesters to follow best management practices that protect streams and wetlands during harvesting operations. The total award to DEEP under this grant is $500,000.
As part of the project, DEEP also will enhance the Connecticut Best Management Practices mobile app, which was released in November 2024. A new feature will allow users to draw trails and measure distances directly on the map, helping timber harvesters calculate the cost and placement of best management practices such as timber mats and bridges.
To learn more about locally grown forest products, visit Connecticut Grown Forest Products and Connecticut’s Primary Wood Processors.
To learn more about Connecticut’s Forest Practitioners, visit Find a Forest Practitioner.
To learn more about best management practices for water quality while harvesting forest products, visit Best Management Practices.
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110