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42 Pallet C e nt ral • Janu a r y -Fe b r u a r y 2 0 24 Jason Ortega is vice president of public affairs at NWPCA. He also manages the NWPCA Political Action Committee for the Association. He may be reached at jortega@palletcentral.com or by calling 703.519.6104. of REAP funding. Securing REAP funding will significantly improve the ROI of an already profitable investment but is not determinative. • Look for a grant writer with experience successfully applying for the specific grant you are hiring them for. • Plan your project outlays carefully. In the case of Remmey's project, Remmey must await the grant decision before completion, as the funding can only be used for future expenditures, not as reimbursement for funds spent. • Be prepared to pay taxes on the grant funds; they are taxable. • Recognize that grants are an all- or-nothing proposition. You'll get everything you asked for or zero, not a percentage. • Finding a suitable grant writer is crucial because they can help identify other grant opportunities. Read on to learn more about four grant programs your company may be eligible for. NWPCA consultant Lot Sixteen has extensive experience applying for grants and is available to discuss whether they can assist you. Reach out to Jason Ortega, VP of Public Affairs, for more information at jortega@palletcentral.com. Wood Innovations Grant e Wood Innovations Grant Program stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of the National Forest System and other forest lands. Focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management. Awards up to $500,000. A new application window is expected later in 2024. Community Wood Grant e Community Wood Grant Program provides grants for installing thermally led community wood energy systems or building innovative wood product manufacturing facilities. e Forest Service expects renewable wood energy systems installed under this program to use the most stringent control technologies. e program emphasizes assisting sawmills in economically challenged areas to retool or add advanced technology. Awards up to $1 million. A new application window is expected later in 2024. Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA) e Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance program provides funding that may be used to provide support for facilities that purchase and process byproducts of ecosystem restoration projects. is includes applications to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facility near federal or Indian lands that need ecosystem restoration and will generate byproducts. e emphasis is on areas of unnaturally severe high-fire risk or insect or disease infestation with high priority for ecological restoration. Awards up to $1 million. A new application window is expected later in 2024. USDA Rural Energy For America Program (REAP) is program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to improve energy efficiency. Small businesses must be located in rural areas with populations of 50,000 residents or less and meet the Small Business Administration size standards. Loan guarantees on loans up to 75% of total eligible costs. Grants up to 50% of total eligible project costs. Combined grant and loan guarantees up to 75%. Awards up to $1 million. 2024 application windows: • March 31, 2024 • June 30, 2024 • September 30, 2024 Available Grant Programs

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