Colorado Wood Utilization and Marketing Program | CoWood

The Colorado Wood Utilization and Marketing Program (CoWood) strives to improve the quality of life for Colorado’s forest products producers, consumers, and forest users by being Colorado’s leading innovator for forest products information, service, education and outreach.

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News & Updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that three Colorado companies competed successfully for $750,000 of funding under the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program. $25 million was awarded to 38 companies and organizations nationwide. Entermountain Enterprises, in Rio Grande County; JT Timber Felling in Costilla County; and the National Forest Foundation received financial support to transport qualifying biomass to eligible wood products manufacturing facilities. For complete information, visit the U.S. Forest Service’s Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grants page.

CSFS and our partners with USFS and the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, have issued a report on forest products markets, Woody biomass utilization, consumption and production in Colorado (PDF). Spending on Colorado’s wood products is characterized by volume and values and compared to past market data. This research is part of our overall statewide Wood Products and Woody Biomass Utilization, Consumption, and Production in Colorado reporting that will be soon released.

USDA announces the availability of financial support to qualified lenders with loan applicants wanting to establish, reopen, expand or improve a sawmill or other wood-processing facilities that process ecosystem-restoration byproducts from USDA Forest Service National Forest System lands. For information on the Timber Production and Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP), visit Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) | Rural Development or contact Tim Reader, [email protected], or Steve Rudolph, [email protected].

Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of the USDA Wood Innovations program. Six industry partners competed successfully for $1.5 million dollars in funding awards. For a complete list of funding awards visit the USDA’s Wood Innovations Program Grants webpage .

No-cost technical assistance is now available to wood products manufacturers from a new partnership between the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the USDA Forest Service. Wood products manufacturers can request and receive assistance for operational and strategic planning, guidance on equipment and process upgrades, safety practices and feasibility assessments, residue utilization, and markets. Visit the US Endowment for Forestry and Commuities website for more information or to request assistance.

A new video, Forest to Farm, explores ways to manage thousands of slash piles AND reduce carbon emissions, improve soil health and enhance water retention at the same time. Video produced by Oregon Department of Forestry with funds awarded from the Biomass Utilization grant program, established by the Colorado General Assembly and administered by the Colorado State Forest Service.

The Timber, Forest Health & Wildfire Mitigation Industries Workforce Development Program is now accepting applications. This program provides funding to qualifying businesses and organizations to hire and train new employees in the timber, forest health and wildfire mitigation industries.

The CSFS is seeking applicants for it wildfire risk mitigation loan program. Loans are available for equipment and other working capital needs. Existing businesses or startups are eligible. Contact Tim Reader for additional details – [email protected], (970) 759-2443.

Wood products manufactured from trees infested or killed by mountain pine beetle or spruce beetle are now eligible for a state sales tax exemption. For complete information, check out guidance from the Colorado Department of Revenue (130 KB PDF).

Projects & Community Efforts

Wood to Energy Program

Wood derived from Colorado and used for energy contributes to our state’s healthy forests, strong rural communities, and clean energy economy.

The Colorado Forest Products™

The Colorado Forest Products™ program enhances the marketing of wood products harvested from Colorado's forestland.

Wildfire Risk Mitigation Loan Fund

Colorado's Wildfire Risk Mitigation Loan Fund provides lending to forest businesses who are improving Colorado's forests.

Workforce Development

The Timber Workforce Development Program provides funding to hire and train new employees.

CoWood Mission

The mission of the Colorado Wood Utilization and Marketing Program (CoWood) is to improve forest conditions by supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of Colorado’s wood products businesses and forestry contractors.

This includes improving wood utilization and market access for existing businesses and recruiting new wood product businesses, particularly along Colorado’s front-range, in order to reduce real and anticipated costs of forest management, forest restoration, and wildfire mitigation.

Services and Support

Providing access to forest products harvesting, manufacturing and market research
Delivering technical, business and financial assistance
Offering wood products training and professional development opportunities
Providing wood products utilization expertise and support to businesses, state and federal partners, communities, and forest collaboratives

CoWood Contact Information

Tim Reader
Program Specialist
Utilization & Marketing
Durango Field Office
Colorado State Forest Service
(970) 759-2443
[email protected]

Steve Rudolph
Program Specialist
Utilization & Marketing
Colorado State Forest Service
(970) 420-8657
[email protected]

You can also connect with us by liking our Colorado State Forest Service Facebook page.

Colorado Wood Utilization & Marketing Program