Northern Forest Center Inc

AWARD PURPOSE:THE PURPOSE OF WORC ROUND 6 IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO STABLE, HIGH-QUALITY, FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBSFOR WORKERS IN THE APPALACHIAN, DELTA, AND NORTHERN BORDER REGIONS, INCLUDING THOSE IN CRITICALSECTORS SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE AND CLEAN ENERGY. IMPROVING ACCESS TO THESE GOOD JOBS WILL ENABLETHESE WORKERS TO REMAIN WITHIN THEIR REGION. THIS FOCUS ALSO IS CONSISTENT WITH THE BIDEN-HARRISADMINISTRATIONS COMMITMENT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY JOBS, AS DEFINED BY THE GOOD JOBSPRINCIPLES, A SHARED FEDERAL VISION OF JOB QUALITY PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR ANDCOMMERCE, AND THE RURAL PARTNERS NETWORK, AN ALL-OF-GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS RURALCOMMUNITIES WITH RESOURCES AND FUNDING TO CREATE JOBS, BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SUPPORT LONGTERMECONOMIC MOBILITY.ACTIVITIES PERFORMED:ALLOWABLE PROJECT ACTIVITIES FOR WORC ROUND 6 GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS INCLUDE WORKFORCE TRAININGACTIVITIES AND CAREER SERVICES, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, EMPLOYER SERVICES, STRATEGIC PLANNING ACTIVITIES,AND EQUIPMENT AND RENOVATION PURCHASES.DELIVERABLES:WORC ROUND 6 GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS IDENTIFY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS PROJECTED TOBE ENROLLED DURING THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTSPROJECTED TO ENTER GOOD JOBS OR OBTAIN NEW OR ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT.SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D, STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACTINTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES):ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS FOR WORC ROUND 6 GRANT AWARDS INCLUDE: 1) NEW ENTRANTS TO THE WORKFORCE:FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS FOA, THE CATEGORY OF NEW ENTRANTS TO THE WORKFORCE REFERS TO THOSE WHOHAVE NEVER WORKED BEFORE OR WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE FOR A LONG ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE ITAS IF THEY ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE FOR THE FIRST TIME 2) DISLOCATED WORKERS: FOR THE PURPOSES OFTHIS FOA, THIS TERM REFERS TO THE DEFINITION FOUND AT SECTION 3(15) OF WIOA AND 3) INCUMBENTWORKERS: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS FOA, THIS TERM REFERS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BUT NEEDEMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES TO SECURE FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, ADVANCE IN THEIR CAREERS, ORRETAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT. WITHIN THESE ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT CATEGORIES (NEW ENTRANTS, DISLOCATEDWORKERS, AND INCUMBENT WORKERS), APPLICANTS MUST PRIORITIZE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONSAND COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE LOCAL OR REGIONAL ECONOMIC AREA SERVED BY THE GRANT, INCLUDING WOMEN,PEOPLE OF COLOR, JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, INDIVIDUALS WITHLIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCY OR OTHER BEHAVIORALHEALTH CONDITIONS, OR OTHER POPULATIONS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED JOB QUALITY AND CAREERADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:WORC ROUND 6 GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS MAY PARTNER WITH SUBRECIPIENTS AS WELL AS PROVIDE SERVICESTHROUGH AMERICAN JOB CENTERS WITHIN THE AREA COVERED BY THE GRANT AS APPROPRIATE.

AWARD PURPOSE.WORC PURPOSE: IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE JUSTICE40 INITIATIVE, THE PURPOSE OF THE WORC INITIATIVE GRANTS IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, RURAL AREAS, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, AND PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR WORKERS WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE APPALACHIAN, DELTA, AND NORTHERN BORDER REGIONS, ENABLING THEM TO REMAIN AND THRIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. PROJECT TITLE: MAINE WEST SUPPORTS NEW ENTRANTS TO THE NATURAL RESOURCE WORKFORCEGRANTEE REGION: NBRCDELIVERABLES EXPECTED OUTCOMES.TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 150 PARTICIPANTS OBTAINING NEW OR ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT: 75INTENDED BENEFICIARIES.TARGET POPULATION: NEW ENTRANTS (HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS)AREAS TO BE SERVED: MAINE TOWNS OF PARIS, RUMFORD, WEST PARIS, BETHEL, HARRISON, NORWAY, OTISFIELD, OXFORD, UPTON, ANDOVER, MEXICO, HANOVER, NEWRY, GILEAD, GREENWOOD, WOODSTOCK, SUMNER, HARTFORD, WATERFORD, DIXFIELD, CANTON, CARTHAGE, PERU, ROXBURY, BYRON, HEBRON, BUCKFIELD.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED.SUMMARY OF PROJECT: THE PROJECT SERVES NEW WORKFORCE ENTRANTS IN FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN WESTERN MAINE (RSU10, RSU56, SAD44, SAD17), WITH A FOCUS ON THE FOREST ECONOMY INDUSTRIES THAT ARE PREDOMINANT AND IN THE REGION: FOREST PRODUCTS, TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, OUTDOOR RECREATION. THROUGH A COORDINATED AND SUPPORTED EFFORT INVOLVING SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE AND SUPPORTED SYSTEM TO EXPOSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO FOREST ECONOMY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH APPROPRIATE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO ENTER THOSE PATHWAYS. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT AREA BUSINESSES IN INCREASING GOOD JOBS ATTRIBUTES AND DEVELOPING SYSTEMS FOR ENGAGING NEW ENTRANTS TO THE WORKFORCE. BY CREATING NEW SCHOOL, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNER NETWORKS AND CAPACITY, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE NEW AND ROBUST SYSTEMS NEEDED TO SECURE THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE REGIONS FOREST ECONOMY AND THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IT SUPPORTS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES.THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

FOREST RESOURCE INFORMATION ANALYSIS NORTHERN FOREST WOOD CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING INNOVATION

NSF ENGINES DEVELOPMENT AWARD: ADVANCING FOREST ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND FOREST PRODUCT INNOVATIONS (NH, ME, VT) -THIS REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINES DEVELOPMENT AWARD IS FOCUSED ON A FUTURE WHERE ADVANCED FOREST ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND FOREST PRODUCT INNOVATION UNLOCK NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN A CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY FOR NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THROUGH A STRATEGIC REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP, THIS DEVELOPMENT AWARD WILL ENABLE THE TEAM TO LEVERAGE KNOWLEDGE IN PRECISION FOREST MANAGEMENT, TRADITIONAL WOOD PRODUCTS, AND BIO-BASED MATERIALS TO COMPLEMENT PAST SUCCESSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS WITH EMERGING FOREST-BASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES. THE DEVELOPMENT AWARD WILL UNIFY CAPACITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR INTO A REGIONAL INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM THAT MATCHES THE MULTI-STATE SCALE AND DIVERSITY OF THE NORTHERN FOREST ECOSYSTEM. MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND VERMONT ARE THREE OF THE MOST FORESTED STATES IN THE US, WITH ECONOMIES AND COMMUNITIES TIGHTLY LINKED TO THEIR NATURAL RESOURCE BASE. GLOBALIZATION HAS WROUGHT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE FOREST SECTOR. THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE STRESSING THE FOREST AND HIGHLIGHTING THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT A HEALTHY NORTHERN FOREST AND THE WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS THAT COME FROM IT PLAY IN STORING AND SEQUESTERING CARBON. FROM THESE COMPLEX CHALLENGES COMES A CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY: TO RE-TOOL AND REINVIGORATE A FOREST-BASED ECONOMY TO CONTRIBUTE TO US COMPETITIVENESS WHILE BUILDING RURAL COMMUNITY EQUITY AND STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THREE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT AWARD: (1) ACCELERATE ADVANCES IN FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING, AND EMERGING FOREST-BASED TECHNOLOGIES; (2) IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES FOR INTELLIGENT UTILIZATION OF NORTHERN FOREST RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC, ECOLOGICAL, AND CLIMATE BENEFIT; AND (3) IMPROVE WORKFORCE SKILLS AND PARTICIPATION IN FOREST-BASED CAREERS, INCLUDING EXPANDED PARTICIPATION BY HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS. THREE FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE (1) PRECISION FORESTRY FOR CLIMATE-SMART SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS (E.G., ADVANCED FOREST INVENTORY, CARBON ACCOUNTING, GEOSPATIAL ASSESSMENT); (2) CONVENTIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS (E.G., DIMENSIONAL AND PATTERN SOLID SAWN LUMBER, WOOD COMPOSITE PANELS, PULP AND PAPER, BIOENERGY); AND (3) EMERGING FOREST BIOPRODUCTS (E.G., NANOCELLULOSE, FOREST BIOCHEMICALS, MASS TIMBER, ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING). OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE A STRATEGIC ROADMAP THAT PROVIDES: (1) IDENTIFICATION OF THE EXISTING AND NEEDED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PRACTICES FOR BUILDING A THRIVING REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINE; (2) FACILITATED COLLABORATION TO CREATE A COMMERCIALIZATION AND INNOVATION STRATEGY BASED ON NORTHERN FOREST ASSETS AND CAPABILITIES; (3) DEVELOPMENT OF NETWORKS, RESOURCES, AND PATHWAYS FOR INTEGRATION OF COMMERCIALIZATION AND INNOVATION FRAMING OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; AND (4) PREPARATION FOR A FULL NSF ENGINE AWARD. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

FOREST ECON. RESILIENCY

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCELERATOR

PROVIDE SUB-AWARDS STATEWIDE FOR 10-20 PROJECTS THAT A) IMPROVE, REBUILD, OR RE-ROUTE RECREATION TRAILS TO REDUCE EROSION AND CONSERVE SOIL OR (B) DESIGN NEW TRAILS USING RECOMMENDED SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES.

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MARKETS FOR WOOD PRODUCTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORTHERN FOREST SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY INITIATIVE

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

COMMUNITY FACILITY DISASTER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTS

RBOG - EZ/EC & RURAL ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP

RBOG - EZ/EC & RURAL ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

SECTION 6006 COMMUNITY FACILITIES (CF) TECHNICAL AND TRAINING (TAT) GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

ST. JOHNSBURY VT WOOD PELLET MILL ENGINEERING ANALYSIS

RBDG E REA

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP OPPORTUNITY GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS ENTERPRISE REAP ZONES GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS BUSINESS COOP BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY REAP ZONES GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP OPPORTUNITY GRANT