Jobs in the Woods Act Funds $50M Forestry Training Grants Targeting Rural Areas with Aging Workforces

The “Jobs in the Woods Act” sets up a new, five-year, competitive grant program through the Department of Agriculture aimed squarely at boosting the forestry workforce. Starting in fiscal year 2026 and running through 2030, this legislation authorizes $10 million annually—totaling $50 million—to fund career pathway training in forestry operations and the industries that process those products.

This isn't just a general training fund; it’s highly targeted. Grants must be between $500,000 and $2 million each and can last up to four years. The money is specifically for “eligible entities”—think nonprofits, local governments, tribes, or colleges—in “eligible areas.” An eligible area is defined as a non-city, low-income community that has broadband access (or a plan to get it) and a population under 50,000. Essentially, this is a direct investment into job skills for small, economically challenged rural communities.

The Rural Workforce Lifeline

If you live in a rural area struggling to keep its young people or facing a wave of retirements, this bill is designed for you. The Secretary of Agriculture is explicitly told to prioritize applications that address two major demographic hurdles: supporting an aging workforce and slowing the out-migration of young people. They also favor programs that partner with high schools or community colleges, creating a direct pipeline from education to employment.

For example, a community college in a small town might partner with a local timber company to create a training program in sustainable logging techniques or advanced sawmill operations. If that program can prove it’s good at placing graduates in high-paying jobs, and if it shows how it will continue running after the four-year grant money is gone, it gets top priority. This focus on sustainability means the government isn't just kicking the can down the road; they want these training centers to become permanent fixtures.

The Fine Print: What Makes an Area Eligible?

The bill’s success hinges on its definition of “eligible area,” which requires referencing two other complex federal laws. To qualify, a community must be deemed “low-income” under Section 45D of the tax code and must have, or be planning to get, broadband access under Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act. This reliance on external definitions can create some uncertainty. If those underlying definitions shift, or if the process of proving “low-income” status is complicated, it could slow down implementation or exclude communities that seem like obvious candidates.

Furthermore, while this money is a huge win for the communities that land a grant, it also places a significant burden on them. Any entity that receives funding must submit a solid plan for how the program will continue operating once the four-year federal funding period ends. This means the local college or nonprofit has to figure out how to transition to local or state funding, or industry support, to keep the training running—a major challenge for organizations in low-income areas.

Overall, the “Jobs in the Woods Act” is a targeted effort to revitalize rural economies by investing directly in job skills and local partnerships, ensuring that the next generation of forestry workers can stay home and find meaningful careers.