The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has allocated at least $1 million to fund wood waste utilization projects across Minnesota. This grant program seeks to address the growing volume of wood waste by promoting alternatives to open burning, land disposal, and landfilling of woody biomass. The funding aims to support projects that provide environmental and economic benefits through innovative uses of wood waste, such as energy production, carbon storage, soil improvement, and creation of durable wood products. These initiatives are encouraged to align with the MPCA’s wood utilization hierarchy, which ranks the most sustainable wood waste management practices from tree preservation and durable wood products to soil amendments and bioenergy production, with disposal methods like open burning and landfilling as the least desirable options.

Applicants must submit their applications by 4 p.m. on November 20, 2024, through the SWIFT portal. Interested applicants can direct questions to the MPCA via email by 4 p.m. on November 15, 2024. A virtual informational meeting was held earlier by MPCA to discuss this grant and the application process in SWIFT. Communication with MPCA employees regarding this grant outside these designated channels may lead to disqualification. This structured process underscores MPCA's commitment to transparency and fair access to all prospective applicants.

Eligible applicants include organizations operating in Minnesota or serving Minnesota communities. These include nonprofit organizations, businesses, educational institutions, local governments (cities, counties, and towns), state agencies, and tribal governments. Collaborations among multiple organizations are permitted. Eligible project expenses may cover staffing, equipment, supplies, transportation, and other costs tied to improving wood waste utilization. Applicants should design projects that align with the MPCA’s wood utilization hierarchy, and projects are scored partly on how well they adhere to this hierarchy and the volume of wood waste they aim to manage.

The grant offers two categories of funding: large projects and smaller projects. For large projects, applicants may request between $100,000 and $250,000. Smaller projects are eligible for grants ranging from $10,000 to $99,999. A minimum 20% match of the grant request is required from all applicants, encouraging applicants to contribute financially to their proposed initiatives. Funding is competitive and seeks to support projects that demonstrate both environmental and practical benefits in wood waste management.

To apply, applicants must access the RFP and application materials through the SWIFT portal, listed as “MPCA-Wood Waste Utilization Grant” under event ID 2000016227. While the documents are available without logging in, applications themselves must be submitted through SWIFT. New users must register as bidders in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, while existing suppliers can use their supplier IDs. The SWIFT system is essential for submission, and applicants can contact the Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100 (option 1) for assistance with portal navigation or registration.

The grant program is designed to help Minnesota address its growing wood waste problem, a trend influenced by the Emerald Ash Borer, climate change, and urban development. These factors contribute to the accumulation of dead or diseased trees that, if improperly disposed of, release carbon and other particles into the atmosphere. By promoting sustainable management of wood waste, MPCA hopes to improve air quality, soil health, and energy efficiencies across the state.

Evaluation criteria will likely prioritize projects that reflect the wood utilization hierarchy and manage substantial volumes of wood waste, aiming to direct resources to projects that provide the most environmental impact.