Mass timber is transforming how America builds—but supply hasn’t kept pace with demand, reports the USDA Forest Service. A gap in domestic manufacturing has slowed widespread adoption, leaving many developers with few options beyond overseas suppliers or traditional steel and concrete.

Through strategic support from the USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Program, the Forest Service is helping close that gap—boosting U.S. capacity, strengthening rural economies, and growing new markets for American wood.

Mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (glulam), offer a carbon-storing, renewable alternative to conventional building materials. But even as the benefits are clear—strength, fire resistance, design flexibility—developers have faced supply constraints. Limited domestic production has slowed construction timelines, raised costs and stifled innovation.

The Forest Service recognized this challenge early and prioritized investment in solutions. By supporting manufacturers who source sustainable wood, reduce waste, and create jobs in rural communities, the agency is building a more resilient and accessible market for mass timber.

Recent Forest Service awards include:

• $250,000 Wood Innovations Grant to expand operations in Columbia Falls.
• $1 million Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grant to purchase and install a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, streamlining precision processing of CLT and glulam and eliminating key bottlenecks.
• $1 million Community Wood Grant to support advanced, separate production lines for CLT and glulam in Dothan—enabling higher efficiency and broader product offerings.

"Mass timber and CLT have been priorities for creating new markets for wood products.  Since 2015, the U.S. has 13 new mass timber plants that are capitalizing on commercial, institutional and multifamily building markets," said Brian Brashaw, Wood Innovations Assistant Director, USDA Forest Service.

To learn more, visit https://www.usda.gov/