HomeMy WebLinkAboutUS Forest Service re Olympic Wood Shed Project Application - 032023CO
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March 20, 2023
US Forest Service
Grant Selection Committee
Region 6
Portland, OR 97204
Board of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Kate Dean, District 1 Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton, District 3
Dear Forest Service Representatives:
I am writing to respectfully ask for your support of the Olympic Wood Shed Project application for FY23
Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program. (CFDA 10.708) Cory Smith, project manager,
based out of Nordland, WA, is requesting $525,000 to expand local milling capacity, reduce carbon
emissions, utilize wood waste and provide jobs and enhance and stabilize wood product manufacturing on
the Olympic Peninsula.
Jefferson County has demonstrated dedication to building a sustainable forestry program through 4 years
of developing a pilot program to take a proactive approach to managing and restoring ecosystem health to
our local forests. A key part of this program is building capacity for more local wood and supporting
developing uses for low value wood products.
Collectively the supporters of this project are providing support including cash, materials and in -kind
services. We will be providing 1-5 acres of county land to lease for mill space and log storage to help
increase capacity, as well as selling wood from our local harvests to improve forest health in the county.
We have worked with our forestry consultant, Chickadee Forestry, and Cory Smith to identify some
possible properties.
A core group of private businesses and public agencies have for the last 3 years been studying forest
health, sustainable harvests, and local wood manufacturing and have identified the lack of milling and
processing resources as a significant barrier to a local wood economy. The Olympic Woodshed Project
would provide significant economic, ecologic and social benefits to our communities.
Thank you very much for your consideration of this important request.
Sincerely,
Kate Dean
District 1
Heidi Eisenhour
District 2
Greg Brotherton, Chair
District 3
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us