Forestry Opportunity Grants

Program purpose

The purpose of the Forestry Opportunity Grant program is to support pilot projects that help conserve the forest land base and forestry in King County by strengthening infrastructure for forestry, promoting forest products-based businesses and adding to the diversity and self-sufficiency of local economies. The program is one of the actions recommended in the King County Rural Economic Strategies Report of 2006.

No funds are available for this program in 2010. 

Project examples

Successful grant applications demonstrate public benefits and show innovative approaches for expanding markets for new or under-used forest products; promoting cooperative forest management among contiguous small forest lands; training youth in forest-related careers; promoting community fire planning or educating landowners about sustainable forest management.

Forestry Opportunity Grant projects include:

• "Puget Sound Grown: Local Wood Marketing Campaign" - The Cascade Harvest Coalition will expand the Puget Sound Fresh program, website, and farm guide to include local, sustainably-produced wood products. The project will increase market opportunities for local forest owners and manufacturers through local marketing, and promoting awareness of local sustainable forestry and wood products. (2010)
  
• "Tolt Triangle Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Managment Project" - Winter storms in 2007 caused considerable damage to forests in the Tolt River Highlands area near Carnation and many trees were blown down. With this project, eleven affected property owners collaborated to salvage fallen and endangered trees to reduce wildfire risk and to avoid further forest health impacts such as beetle infestation. The community shared their story on the Tolt Triangle Fire Council website. (2008)
  
• "Vashon Island Mill Yard Improvements" - The Vashon Forest Stewards purchased the materials needed to convert a donated refrigeration unit into a drying kiln. Having a kiln means that the Stewards no longer have to truck logs off the island for drying. The new kiln has reduced costs, and makes the island self-sufficient in processing sustainably harvested wood products. (2008)
  
• "Developing Diverse Income Opportunities for Small Woodlands" - The Northwest Natural Resource Group offered workshops on diverse income opportunities such as: markets for certified wood, small scale manufacturing, non-timber forest products, conservation easements and emerging markets for ecosystem services. The owners of small forest acreages own lands that are most subject to forest conversion, and stand to gain the most from combining such revenue sources. (2008)
  

Eligible applicants

Rural community groups, small forest landowners, small businesses, local development corporations, not-for-profit organizations, tribal governments, special districts and educational institutions are eligible for grants. General purpose local, state or federal government agencies are not eligible. Projects must be located in unincorporated King County or in a rural city.

Contact us

For further information on Forestry Opportunity Grants, please contact:

Linda Vane, Forestry Program
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
206-296-8042
800-325-6165 ext. 68042
linda.vane@kingcounty.gov

Information presented here is available in alternate formats upon request.

TTY: 800-833-6388 or 711.