Wheeler SWCD Conservation Community Center

The US Forest Service awarded $300,000 to Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District for the Wheeler SWCD Mass Timber Facility Project through the Wood Innovation Program on June 9, 2023. The award was one of 123 projects nationwide totaling more than $43 million through Community Wood Grants and Wood Innovations Grants

The Wood Innovations Grants Program, launched in 2015, stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management. Since 2015, the Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grant programs have provided more than $93 million to 381 recipients to support wood products and wood energy projects.

Funding will be used to complete engineered designs of a mass timber building; explore potential sustainable features to be incorporated into design; conduct thermal testing comparison of steel versus mass timber buildings; and plan construction of the mass timber building.

The Project Team

LEVER Architecture

Sustainable Northwest

DCI Engineers

Mercer Mass Timber

University of Oregon Research and TallWood Design Institute

StereoEye Productions

Click here to learn how you can get involved!

Project Goals