Wood innovations grant program

Section 8643 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 7655d) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking innovation and inserting innovations; (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking make a wood innovation grant and inserting issue competitive or non-competitive grants; (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) Targeting support for economic development, enhanced building design, and impact assessment In selecting among proposals of eligible entities under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary may give priority to proposals for projects that— (1) include the use or retrofitting (or both) of existing sawmill facilities located in counties in which the average annual unemployment rate exceeded the national average unemployment rate by more than 1 percent in the previous calendar year; (2) recognize or enhance carbon reduction strategies in building design, including forest impacts, which can be improved or incentivized by North American procurement; or (3) report on the connection between the proposal and the resilience and economic benefits associated with wood products from anticipated wood supply areas, including wildfire risk reduction, increased fiber flow, forest or mill jobs, and support for forested communities created because of forest management.; and (4) in subsection (d), by inserting 50 percent of before the amount.