The Jobs in the Woods Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a competitive grant program that funds training programs for forestry careers in rural, low-income communities with populations of 20,000 or fewer. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal nations, and colleges that can demonstrate capacity to train workers and address workforce challenges like aging employees and young people leaving rural areas. Grants will range from $500,000 to $2 million per award for up to four years, with preference given to organizations that partner with schools and help place graduates into forestry jobs. The bill authorizes $10 million annually from 2025 through 2029 to support these workforce development efforts in the forestry industry.
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