CONCORD, N.H. — The U.S. Department of Commerce is giving a Concord, New Hampshire, firm more than $500,000 to try to build the economy of the northern forest region of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York through investing in the wood products industry.
The commerce department says the grant is going to Northern Forest Center Inc., which it says will bring technical assistance to wood products companies and related firms in the states. The department says it is expecting the project to help create or retain 400 jobs.
The Northern Forest Center is a non-profit organization whose programs have helped secure and leverage $178 million for projects that benefit the region’s communities, the economy and forest stewardship over the last 11 years. The Center says its programs have benefited 4,600 jobs in the wood products industry.
The assistance provided by Northern Forest Center will include developing market demand in the wood heat industry and encouraging growth in the tourism industry.