Enclosure 4A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Utilization and Marketing Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
North Central Washington Resource Conservation & Development (NCWRC&D)
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
ncwrcd@televar.co
509 682-8284
509 682-4533
ncwrcd@televar.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
PO Box 666, Chelan, WA 98816
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mike Ferris
Executive Director
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Okanogan Communities Development Council (OCDC)
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
509 997-2245
509 997-2273
ocdc@mymethow.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Roundwood Product Deveopment. & Market Testing
Project Start:
Project End:
October 1, 2002
Sept. 30, 2003
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$60,000.00
$75,000.00
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No
Brief Project Description:
This project builds upon Feasibility/Business Planning Study (funded under NFP 01)
recommendations to further test produce and market test various products utilizing existing
producers and infrastructure. This proposal focuses upon roundwood and will test the ability of
existing producers in the Twisp area to profitably produce new product designs into high quality,
market acceptable roundwood products (structural components, trusses, furniture, fencing, etc.)
utilizing existing equipment and facilities. The resulting products will be used as test marketing
samples. ( A similar scope pilot project to produce and test market flooring and panelling products
is planned for the Tonasket area with NFP 02 funds.) The project will engage existing local
producers to: 1.Test the quantitative and qualitative aspects of selected stands of local small
diameter suppressed douglas fir and ponderosa pine; 2. Determine potential recovery rates and
costs for peeling and milling small logs into various products; and 3. Test market those samples to
determine potential pricing and market acceptance. Anticipated benefits of this pilot project
include:1.To determine the suitabilities of existing infrastructure to produce desired results; 2. To
test cooperative arrangements between local producers; 3. To refine Business Plan assumptions
with actual results.
Project Location:
County:
Congressional District:
Okanogan
Okanogan
4th
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Enclosure 4B (Page 1 of 3) - Project Narrative Description
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than one page,
single space, 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 partners





project income
project time frames
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
PROJECT LOCATION:The project will focus upon the Methow Valley area of Okanogan County,
WA. where a strong log home and timber frame market exists. Sample loads of small diameter timber
harvested from the Hungry Hunter Project (a USFS Stewardship Pilot) will be processed in existing facilities
in Twisp using new designs to produce new product protoypes to be test-marketed locally and regionally.
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: Building upon consultant recommendations from a previous
feasibility/business planning study, contracts will be established with marketing specialists and local
artist/designers to develop roundwood product designs for production and market testing. Existing producers
in the County will be retained to harvest, transport, sort, peel, dowel and otherwise process, treat and produce
various roundwood products for market testing. Grant funds will be used to reimburse participating producer's
direct costs. The project will be overseen and monitored by OCDC staff and experienced consultants. Data
produced will be used to refine business plans and establish market outlets for future production runs. Test
run product samples will be distributed to local builders and various market outlets and distributors for
evaluation and response. Cost and production data will be compiled from each step and a report will
summarize findings, analysis and recommendations.
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES: The project will provide valuable data on 1. Supply sources and small log
fiber suitability for structural components, railings, furniture and other roundwood products 2. Recovery of
value added materials utilizing various existing processing equipment and facilities and 3. Market acceptance,
pricing and revenue potentials from samples produced. Results of this project will verify or modify Phase 1 &
2 Feasibility/Business Planning asumptions and point to potential needs for equipment or facility additions
and/or replacements, investment needs and returns and marketing requirements in order to proceed to full
production level. Results will be used to update the Business Plan.
MEASURES & REPORTING: Data will be compiled at all stages and analyzed and summarized in a report,
including an updated Business Plan..
PARTNERS: OCDC's partners include NCWRC&D as fiscal agent and technical advisor; Healthy
Forests/Healthy Communities Partnership who will assist in product test marketing; U of Wash. RTI which
will assist in project design, monitoring and analysis; Partnership for a Sustainable Methow's Forest
Stewardship Project which will provide a source of small logs; Alliance 2005 which will assist in obtaining
funding for potential facility needs; and a number of small businesses in Okanogan County who we will
work with to complete the project.
PROJECT INCOMES: No direct income is anticipated as the products produced will be used as marketing
samples.
TIME FRAMES: The project is anticipated to be completed within six months of start date.
ACTIVITIES & EQUIPMENT: Logs will be sorted at a leased site in Twisp. Processing equipment
anticipated to be utilized includes: log peeler/ and /or dowler to be leased; Sawmilling - the Lil Whitler
(portable mill) and wood mizer type. planner/ moulder - existing equipment owned by a local operator.
Treatment and /or kiln drying operations will be contracted out as needed. Local designers and artists will be
engaged along with marketing specialists in initial product development and testing.
EXTENT OF ACTIONS: Estimated log supply to be processed = 4-6 truckloads
ENVIRONMENTAL & OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Logs are anticipated to be sourced from Hungry
Hunter Pilot Project and other USFS projects already in compliance with NEPA/SEPA and related
requirements.
Response:
Enclosure 4B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Increasing Local Capacity (35 Points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially
year-round and seasonal jobs)?
B. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
C. Which, if any, private businesses will participate?
D. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or businesses?
A. ECONOMIC IMPACT: Jobs created during this project will be short term only. If sucessful,
long term new jobs created will include logging and forest workers, truck and machine operators, sawing,
planing, and millworkers, furniture makers, fence-post-rail builders, and marketing and sales jobs. A
conservative estimate of total new jobs created by this project over the next 3-5 years is from 20-30 jobs.
B. FUELS REDUCTION: If tests for utilizing small diameter timber for value added products are sucessful,
we anticipate creating an annual supply requirement roughly estimated at 1000 acres of thinning activities in
addition to Business Plan targets for paneling/flooring production and related residual products identified in
Phase 3.
C. BUSINESS PARTICIPANTS: Several local businesses have indicated interest in participating, including
Ark II log home and timberframe manufacturer, Wolf Ridge Log Furniture, Leslie/Cockle (Lil Whitler &
Pack Rat), and possibly Colville Indian Tribal Enterprises. Other contractors may also be engaged, depending
upon need. Specific agreements will be made during first step, Study Design.
D..MODEL POTENTIAL: Study data and results could apply to various communites in the Okanogan region
and the methodologies are applicable throughout the Western U.S.
Response:
2. Reducing fire risk. (30 points)
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas and communities.
Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the
safety of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative fuels treatment plan or community fire strategy (include
evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. Explain how the proposal (a) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (b) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuels conditions.
A.
B.
Response: A.
HAZARD REDUCTION: This project is not expected to have significant impacts upon fuels
reduction in the short term. However by finding economic uses for the products of forest thinning, it is
believed that fuels reduction and forest restoration activities will be more economically viable in the long run.
B. RESOURCE BENEFITS & COMMUNITY SAFETY: The Okanogan region has been hit hard by
devastating wild fires in the last few years, with four fire fighters killed last year and many homes endangered
and/or destroyed. Target areas for thinning of small diameter wood are in this urban interface of dense dry
forest from where our test supply will come for this project.
C. COOPERATIVE FUELS TREATMENT PLANNING: This project supports the local Forest Stewardship
Project's thinning and restoration activities as well as the USFS and State of Washington's timber sales by
serving as a source of demand for their otherwise non-merchantable materials.
D. RESTORATION/MITIGATION: A target source of supply for this project is the Methow Valley Ranger
District's Hungry Hunter Pilot Stewardship project, containing 6000- 7000 acres of treatment within this
20,000+ acre LSR area. The area was chosen because of its urban interface, diverse fire-adapted ecosystem,
and dry dense conditions. Creating demand for material here may help ease budget constraints for necessary
thinning work.
Enclosure 4B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested people and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and involved in
this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits of the project?
Response: A. COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT: OCDC completed a Wood Products Survey that identified
80 wood-related businesses in Okanogan County. A mailing & email list was created from this information.
All producers have been informed about Phase I and 2 Feasibility/Business Planning work in this way. Five
Community Meetings have been held in Tonasket and in the Methow Valley to present consultant findings
and to receive input. The general public has been kept informed by press releases, newspaper articles and
radio announcements. In addition, numerous meetings have been held with business owners, civic leaders and
governmental and non-profit organizations to network and build alliances. Community participants active in
prior meetings will be invited to serve as technical advisors to monitor pilot project activities and events.
B. LOCAL SUPPORT: The project was just rated third highest in prioity on the WACERT list for Okanogan
County. OCDC has recieved project support and endorsements from many organizations, including the
Alliance 2005 (the local county economic development agency), the North Central Wash. RC&D ( our fiscal
agent) Partnership for a Sustainable Methow (sponser of the Forest Stewardship Project) The U of Wash's
Rural Technology Initiative, The Okanogan Revolving Loan Fund, the Towns of Twisp and Tonasket.
Participating contractors potentially benefitting from project results will be asked to contribute an inkind
share to help offset project costs.
C. PROJECT BENEFITS: Okanogan County has the second highest unemployment rate in the state at 13%.
The primary social benefit from this project is increased living-wage jobs. The primary environmental benefit
is improvement of our local forest health and reduction of fire hazards. We are educating the community by
demonstrating how forest restoration can create meaningful work opportunities.
4. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (20 Points)
A. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning among federal, state, tribal, local government and
community organizations in developing this proposal. List the cooperators.
B. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if
it already exists.
Response: A.
AGENCY COORDINATION: OCDC has worked closely with the USDA Forest Service and
WA/OTED staff in previous phases of Feasibility/Business Planning and in tailoring this proposal to
systematically test the capabilities of local infrastructure and wood supplies before making investment in new
capital or technology for wood products manufacturing. We have also worked closely with local USFS ranger
district staff to identify and position our project for upcoming timber sales and thinning contracts. (We are a
member of the expanded PAC for the Hungry Hunter Pilot Stewardship project). We have partnered with
several other organizations (several previously mentioned) including the Colville Confederated Tibes, The
Forest Stewardship Project (through PSM), Alliance 2005, Town of Twisp and Town of Tonasket(business
sites). OCDC has recieved support from Healty Forest Healthy Communities Partnership in completing a
wood products survey that identified 80 producers in Okanogan County. Being a member allows us to
network with sdw projects in other regions. HFHC will provide support in the market testing aspects of this
project.
B. INTERGOVERMENTAL STRATEGY: Small Diameter Wood Utilization recieved a #3 ranking out of
over 30+ projects in Okanogan County in the last WACERT list in May.We are assisting the Alliance 2005
(Okanogan County's economic development planning agency) to develope infrastructure and incubator space
to house wood products and other agri-businesses in Tonasket and Twisp and in implementing other plans
for community development in the Okanogan.
Enclosure 4C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
1. STUDY DESIGN - Preparation of a
detailed work plan for completion of this pilot
test including agreements with participating
contractors, budgets and time schedules for
each element.
2 - 3 weeks
OCDC staff in conjunction with
consultants and participating
producers.
2. LOG SOURCING - Arrangements will be
completed for harvesting and delivery of sdt
to the processing site. Harvesting will be
monitored for log selection.
2 - 3 weeks
OCDC staff, consultants & selected
contractor
3. LOG SORTING/MEASURING - Logs will
be sorted, graded, measured, weighed, marked
and data compiled. Sorting will be by species,
sizes, and suitabilities for post/rail , structural
members, furniture and other manufactured
products.
1 - 2 weeks
OCDC staff , consultants & selected
contractor
4. PEELING/DOWLING - Selected logs will
be peeled for post/pole and structural
applications; others will be dowled where
dimensional uniformity is required for high
value manufactured products.
1-2 weeks
Selected Contractors with
monitoring by OCDC
staff/consultants
5. SAWING AND DRYING - Selected peeled
& dowled logs will be sorted for further
processing including sawing, drying and
milling for furniture, siding and paneling
products.
1-2 weeks
Selected Contractors with monitoring
by OCDC consultants
6. RESIDUAL PRODUCTS- Logs not
suitable for manufactured products will be
processed into firewood and other residual
products.
2-3 weeks
Selected Contractors with monitoring
by OCDC staff and consultants.
7. MARKET TESTING - Samples will be
prepared, both finished & unfinished for
distribution to target companies. Data will be
compiled on contacts, response, pricing
suggestions and order potentials.
4 - 6 weeks
OCDC staff & consultants with
HFHC staff assistance.
8. DATA COMPILATION & REPORT Data collected at all stages will be compiled
and analyszed to determine production rates,
costs, and market potentials for products
produced. Business Plan will be updated.
3 - 4 weeks
OCDC staff & consultants.
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Project Director
StaffSstaff
Research
Asst.
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
$6,000.00
$3,000.00
$9,000.00
OCDC INKIND
$3000.00
$1,800.00
$4,800.00
Healthy Forest
Healthy Comm
$3,000.00
$3,000.00
RC&D
Total
$0.00
$0.00
$9,000.00
$7,800.00
$16,800.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,700.00
$0.00
$3,700.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Travel
Subtotal
$3,000.00
$700.00
$3,000.00
$700.00
$0.00
Equipment
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Supplies
Logs
Rent, Utilities @50%, Supplies
Subtotal
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$10,000.00
$1,500.00
$1,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$5,000.00
$6,500.00
$11,500.00
Contractual
Consultants
Contractors
Subtotal
$7,000.00
$25,000.00
$32,000.00
$0
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$0
$0
$0.00
$0
$0
$0.00
$0.00
$7,000.00
$30,000.00
$37,000.00
Other
Indirect RC&D @ 10%
$6,000.00
$0
$0
$0
$0.00
$6,000.00
Subtotal
$6,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,000.00
Total Costs
$60,000.00
$12,000.00
$3,000.00
$0.00
$75,000.00
Project (Program) Income1
1
$0.00
Program income is the gross revenue generated by a grant or cooperative agreement supported activity during the life of the
grant. Program income can be made by recipients from fees charged for conference or workshop attendance, from rental fees
earned from renting out real property or equipment acquired with grant or cooperative agreement funds, or from the sale of
commodities or items developed under the grant or cooperative agreement. The use of Program Income during the project
period may require prior approval by the granting agency.