FRI Grants to Breathe New Life into Maine Forest Products Industry

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Maine Technology Institute (MIT) announced launch of first phase of the Forestry Recovery Initiative (FRI)- a multi-phase grant program to support Maine’s forest products industry and the people employed by it. The announcement to this effect was made by Governor Janet Mills.

The FRI aims to distribute a total of $20M in federal funding approved through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The grant will support Maine’s Forestry businesses to recover from damages caused by Covid-19 pandemic.

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The program will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will provide pandemic relief for companies across the forestry industry in Maine. The second phase is expected to be launched in early 2022, which will focus on improving market opportunities for Maine timber.

Through the grant, the state aims to provide support to as many timber-related forestry businesses as possible, by providing them capital to stabilize, thereby helping the recovery of Maine’s $8.5 billion forest economy.

Governor Janet Mills reminded that support to the industry will diversify the important industry and open new markets, which in turn will create jobs and strengthen the rural economy. Furthermore, he encouraged all eligible forest products businesses to take advantage of the opportunity.

The deadline to apply for the grant is January 31, 2022.