Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is investing $9,622,000 in 17 projects in Oregon to boost the creation of innovative wood products, develop more markets for uses of mass timber and renewable wood energy, and increase the capacity of wood processing and manufacturing facilities. This federal funding is critical to ensuring the state’s leadership in the wood products industry, while helping to restore healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk. The wood products industry is essential to Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest’s economy. Sustainably sourced materials for many types of wood products can improve the resiliency of our forests. For example, removal of small diameter trees and brush can help reduce wildfire severity and spread. The investments for Oregon are part of a broader suite of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s USFS Wood Innovations Program grants for public, private, and non-profit sectors, totaling $80 million for projects across the country this year.