When the industry works together to promote softwood lumber, great things happen. That’s the idea that drives the SLB’s investments. Through strategic collaboration, partnerships, and programs, the SLB has helped elevate innovative ideas to increase the demand for appearance and structural softwood lumber products – in accordance with the purpose defined by the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order): to strengthen the position of softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber, and develop new uses for softwood lumber.
To achieve this goal, the SLB objectives are to:
- Increase wood use in the light commercial/non-residential and multi-family markets.
- Defend and rebuild share for solid wood in the decking and outdoor living market.
- Protect access to the markets for solid wood products through ongoing codes and standards work.
- Grow demand in residential and mid-high rise construction through building system improvements and innovation.
The initiatives and projects funded by the SLB will need to lead directly or indirectly to the following measurable outcomes:
- Increased market share for softwood lumber
- Increased volume of softwood lumber consumed in the United States (incremental to normal market fluctuations)
- Improve market conditions for softwood lumber producers
Apply for Funding from the SLB
The SLB’s funded programs all started as ideas from people who know and understand the industry and how it is changing. With funding from the SLB, those ideas were transformed into impactful programs that have benefited the entire industry. The SLB maintains an open call for proposals and welcomes new, innovative strategies to grow demand for softwood lumber. Proposals are typically reviewed twice annually, in May and November.
Organizations may submit proposals for market development and research activities for terms of up to one calendar year (projects must commence on or after January 1st and end on or before December 31st).
Proposals are evaluated against standardized criteria to ensure they meet SLB and USDA program eligibility requirements. Proponents are encouraged to review the following SLB documents:
Perennial Grants and Funding
In addition to individually submitted proposals, organizations may take advantage of the SLB’s recurring programs such as the Mass Timber Competition and Wood Innovations Grant matching. Learn more about those programs on our Research and Funding page.
Eligibility
Funding is directed only to groups or associations representing multi-company interests, and serving the objectives of a large geographical area with the U.S., or the majority of producers of a product category and that focus on creating benefits for the U.S. Softwood lumber sector.
SLB funding should benefit multiple companies and interested parties and should not be limited to proprietary interests of any one organization/company. SLB will only accept proposals from existing special purpose industry groups or associations, and not-for-profit organizations representing softwood lumber products sub sectors or the sector as a whole.
To be eligible for funding by the SLB all initiatives must be focused on U.S. softwood lumber markets and:
- Demonstrate the potential to create significant ROI, i.e. margin dollars relative to the investment made;
- Protect, maintain or grow softwood lumber markets;
- Have a clearly defined and detailed evaluation methodology with measurable benchmarks from which success and results may be assessed.
Preference will be given to initiatives that demonstrate the potential to:
- Have a limited term and/or have the potential to become self-sustaining programs;
- Leverage SLB funding with additional third party funding; or, softwood lumber initiatives that demonstrate synergies with other funding programs aimed at growing the market for wood building products;
- Have broader geographic implications or influence;
- Possess an organizational support structure capable of assuring implementation;
- Maximize the amount of funding devoted to program implementation.