Michigan Providing Money and Assistance to Mass Timber Builders

The state’s Department of Natural Resources announced the new program in October that includes funding as well as guidance and technical assistance.

Cash awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 will be made available by the state under its new Michigan Mass Timber Catalyst Program, designed to support building projects that use mass timber as a primary structural or architectural material.

These projects can include commercial, industrial, public/institutional, multifamily residential and other building types that demonstrate innovative and optimized use of mass timber, according to the announcement.

“By advancing this technology, we’re not only reducing the carbon footprint of our buildings but also strengthening local economies and reimagining what’s possible for design and construction in our state,” said Cheri Holman, executive director of the Michigan Green Building Collaborative, in the announcement of the new program. Michigan’s forest products economy already generates more than $26 billion annually, said Sandra Lupien, director of MassTimber@MSU, a Michigan State University organization supporting the advancement of mass timber use in construction.

Winning teams will work in the program with MassTimber@MSU and WoodWorks, a mass timber-focused nonprofit. The announcement said the groups will work through design, procurement, cost estimation, and code approval processes, among other facets.

Funding for the program comes from a one-time State General Fund appropriation to the DNR in Public Act 121 of 2024, the announcement of the program said.

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