Wheeler SWCD gets funding for new facility

FOSSIL, OR - The US Forest Service has awarded $300,000 to the Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District for the Wheeler SWCD Mass Timber Facility Project through the Wood Innovation Program.

The award was one of 123 projects nationwide totaling more than $43 million through Community Wood Grants and Wood Innovations Grants - longstanding Forest Service grant programs that promote innovation in wood products and renewable wood energy economies.

Since 2015, the Wood Innovations and Community Wood Grant programs have provided more than $93 million to 381 recipients to support wood products and wood energy projects.

"As a conservation district, daily discussions surround the increased demands for climate change mitigation, conservation, reduced environmental impacts and improved economic stability," Wheeler County Soil & Water Conservation District Manager Cassi Newton said. "We plan to use recently purchased acres overlooking the John Day River to develop a mass timber constructed multi-agency community center to serve as a hub for conservation agencies and provide much needed modern office, conference, education, and training services that is centrally located in the exceptionally rural district/county."

Funding will be used to complete engineered designs of a mass timber building; explore potential sustainable features to be incorporated into design; conduct thermal testing comparison of steel versus mass timber buildings; and, plan construction of the mass timber building.

Mass timber is known for its durability and unlike wood-frame or heavy timber, is fire resistant.