Jobs in the Woods Act

This bill creates a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to train people for good-paying jobs in forestry and wood products. The goal is to build clear training paths that help students and workers learn skills and get hired. The program must start within one year of the bill becoming law, and the act may be cited as the Jobs in the Woods Act.

Grants would go to local “eligible entities” that can show need, a plan to reach people, and a way to keep the program going. Applications must include how they will run the training, how many people they aim to reach, and how they will make it sustainable. The Agriculture Department will favor plans that tackle an aging workforce and youth moving away, partner with high schools, trade schools, or community colleges, and help with job placement. Grants can last up to four years and range from $500,000 to $2,000,000. The bill authorizes $10 million per year for 2025–2029 to fund these grants.

• Who is affected: Students, job seekers, and local groups running training programs in eligible areas; schools and colleges that partner on forestry training.
• What changes: USDA will run a competitive grant program for forestry career training, with priority for projects that partner with schools and help place people in jobs.
• When: Program starts within one year of enactment; funding runs 2025–2029; grants can last up to four years.