December 2025 Newsletter: Projects, News & Events

Save the Date: Growth & Governance Workshop

Thursday, January 29, 2026
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. PT
Location: WSU Vancouver (In-Person)
Registration: Pending — watch for an email announcement.

Goal: Align on growth & governance for PNW MTTH  

Scheduling notes

• No meeting at the end of December — enjoy the holidays!
• The January Growth & Governance Workshop replaces the January virtual meeting.
• Next regular meeting: Friday, February 27, 2026.
• Recurring cadence: Last Friday of the month moving forward
  

Next Steps: Email to be added to monthly meeting invite if you’re not already looped in. Save the date for January in-person meeting, plan to reconnect virtually in February. Stay engaged as we prepare for EDA’s Spring 2026 award decisions. Opt in as a member.

Opt in as a member of the Tech Hub

A reminder that the Tech Hub is open to organizations, agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit partners across OR, WA, ID, and MT.  With a full value chain focus across forest management, harvest, and milling to design, manufacturing, and construction and including those providing products, services, innovation, or infrastructure, members share a commitment to collaborative efforts to expand sustainable wood use, strengthen the regional mass timber industry, and position it for global competitiveness.

Call for Comms

Insight & input requested

As we head into early 2026, we’re seeking content ideas to raise the visibility of the PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub -  directly supporting our chances of securing significant federal funding. Our short-term goal is to show how mass timber is a high-impact growth industry creating high-wage domestic jobs, even in challenging economic times.

• What are you working on that could advance the regional narrative?
• What messaging or support would help you reach policymakers or media?
• Where do you see opportunities for third-party coverage, beyond paid media from us?

Proposal Framework & Next Steps

Proposal Reminder: EDA Tech Hub Request ($33M)  

The PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub officially submitted our FY25 EDA Tech Hubs Implementation Grant proposal, requesting $33 million in federal funding to catalyze growth across three coordinated component projects.

1. GROW — $7.5M. Lead: WA Mass Timber Accelerator. Aim: Expand demand, capital access, and supportive policy.
Policy Alignment Committee

• Entrepreneur & C-suite training;
• Investor underwriting education;
• Insurance data + resilience tools;
• Model zoning in 20 Oregon cities;
• Revolving working capital fund;
• Modular/prefab housing customer pipeline
  

2. INNOVATE — $15M. Lead: Oregon State University / TDI. Aim: Accelerate testing, commercialization, and fiber supply security.

• Innovation Derisking Program;
• Commercialization of AI forestry, automation/robotics, and flat-pack systems;
• NEPA surveys securing 15 years of supply;
• Maker Space at the Port of Portland;
• Product certification support.
  

3. TRAIN — $10M. Lead: Worksystems. Aim: Build a regional workforce pipeline for forestry, manufacturing, and construction.

• FWETC curriculum + mobile training;
• Workforce assessments (WA/ID/MT);
• Community college micro-credentials;
• Six-board workforce alignment;
• Digital career/training portal;
• Student outreach and job placements.
  

Timeline

• Nov 7, 2025: Stage I preliminary application submitted
• Early Jan 2026: Expected notice on Phase II advancement
• Feb 18, 2026: Stage II comprehensive application due
• Spring 2026: Awards announced
• 24–60 months: Period of performance

Market Growth & Insights

Mass Timber Market Assessment (Consultant Project)

On October 14, we hosted a virtual presentation sharing findings from the completed PNW Regional Mass Timber Market Study, done by Kristin Slavin (Conifer Advising), Roy Anderson (Beck Consulting), Nicholas Sills (Whirlwind Consultants), and Erica Spiritos, LLC.. The study benchmarks regional demand, supply, and capacity to set five- and ten-year growth targets and guide future public and private investment.

Materials: Link to the recorded presentation is up on YouTube. The recording, slides, and market study document are also all live on the Tech Hub website.

What to Watch — Early 2026:

• Mass Timber Moves Mainstream: Uptake in commercial and mixed-use construction is growing, reflecting strong residual demand.
• Supply-Chain & Policy Momentum: Expanding manufacturing capacity and rising demand highlight opportunities for zoning reform, policy alignment, and capital-access initiatives.
• New CLT Capacity: Timberlab + Swinerton’s 192,000-sf facility in Oregon has topped out; when operational, it can produce 7–9M sq ft of CLT annually.
• Industry Outlook: Over 2,000 mass-timber projects are currently in design pipelines in the U.S., indicating robust near-term growth.

Events & Gatherings

International Mass Timber Conference — Mar 31–Apr 2, 2026 | Portland, OR

The global flagship mass-timber event with 200+ exhibitors, 60+ speakers, and sessions on technology, policy, and market trends. Learn more & register.

With funding provided by the US Economic Development Administration to Oregon State University, we are laying the foundation for our shared vision of a globally competitive industry in mass timber.

— The PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub Team

Marcus Kauffman, ODF, Tech Hub Regional Innovation Officer (RIO)

Iain Macdonald, OSU, Hub Director