NEWS RELEASE

Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Program to Support Wood Processing Facilities and Help Reduce Wildfire Threats

Funding Made Available Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Promotes Healthy Forests, Spurs Job Growth and Strengthens the American Timber Industry

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled a new program to support American wood processing facilities. USDA Rural Development is partnering with USDA Forest Service to provide funding through the new Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP). The program will support the processing and utilization of wood products from National Forest System lands to improve forest health and reduce the risk posed by wildfires, insects, and disease and the detrimental impacts they have on communities and critical infrastructure.

This program is funded through President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It also reflects the goals of the President’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out, and to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure.

To learn more, read full News Release.