{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-25-million-to-strengthen-maines-forest-economy", "Collins, King Announce Nearly $2.5 Million to Strengthen Maine\u2019s Forest Economy", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced $2,498,588 in federal funding to strengthen Maine\u2019s forest products sector and expand markets for the industry. The investment from the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Wood Innovations Grant and Community Wood Grant programs will help four businesses across the state invest in high-demand 21st century forest products like cross-laminated timber, new pine resources, and wood biomass fuels. The funding was requested by Senators Collins and King earlier this year and builds on the work of the state\u2019s Forest Opportunity Roadmap (FOR/Maine) Initiative, which has worked to expand economic opportunities for the forest products industry.\n\n\u201cThe future of Maine\u2019s forest products industry is bright. With new technologies like cross-laminated timber and biomass energy, the historic sector has a chance to overcome the obstacles of the last few decades and restore jobs in our state\u2019s logging communities,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThis new funding from the Forest Service will build on the momentum of the Maine forest industry\u2019s comeback and provide critical support to four innovative companies that are finding new customers for our high-quality wood products. It\u2019ll mean more jobs, more economic growth, and more Maine products around the globe. We\u2019re proud to have supported this investment and look forward to seeing its impact in partnership with the FOR/Maine Initiative.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are very excited to receive this grant and are grateful for the Senators\u2019 continued support of Robbins Lumber and Maine\u2019s forest products industry in general,\u201d said Alden Robbins, Vice President of Robbins Lumber and Chairman of the North Eastern Lumber Manufacturers Association. \u201cThis grant will be instrumental in getting the maximum value out of the White Pine resource, keeping Maine manufactured lumber competitive in the global market, and retaining good paying, foundational jobs in our area.\u201d\n\nWood Innovations Grants are being awarded as follows:\n\n$250,000 for Dirigo Center Developers in Westbrook to build a cross-laminated timber tower and retail demonstration that will expand markets for Maine\u2019s new forest products.\n\n$250,000 for Maine Woods Company in Portage to generate high-efficiency steam energy from wood biomass.\n\nCommunity Wood Grants are being awarded as follows:\n\n$998,588 for Standard Biocarbon Corporation in Enfield for two PYREG pyrolysis units that can produce wood biomass for use in steam kilns.\n\n$1,000,000 for Robbins Lumber in Searsmont to help them maximize the forest product opportunities of White Pine through advanced value-based scanning.\n\nThe U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Wood Innovations Grant and Community Wood Grant programs work with state and local partners to support projects that reduce fuels, improve forest health, reduce forest management costs, and promote the economic and environmental health of communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-25-million-to-strengthen-maines-forest-economy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7305459585040808, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}