February 2026 Newsletter: Projects, News & Events

EDA Phase II: Deadline = Feb 18th!

PNW MTTH is just 11 hubs nationwide competing for a share of $220 million in federal implementation funding, and the only Tech Hub finalist based in Washington or Oregon. With the Phase II submission due February 18, 2026, the next couple of weeks represent a critical window to demonstrate strong, coordinated regional participation.

Membership Opt-In Reminder

As the Tech Hub enters its next phase, we’re asking partners to opt in as members to:

• Stay fully engaged and reflected in governance, communications, and implementation planning
• Receive priority updates and invitations
• Participate in working groups and governance conversations
• Be counted as part of the region’s mass timber ecosystem as we scale

Membership is open to organizations across OR, WA, ID, and MT spanning the full mass timber value chain—from forest management and milling to design, manufacturing, construction, innovation, and enabling services.

Opt in as a member of the Tech Hub

Scheduling notes: Next regular meeting: Friday, February 27, 2026; recurring cadence on the last Friday of the month moving forward

Next Steps: Plan to reconnect virtually in February. Email to be added to monthly meeting invite if you’re not already looped in. Opt in as a member.

Reflections & next steps: Growth & Governance Workshop

This in-person convening on Thursday, January 29, 2026 was designed to directly inform the Phase II application and align partners on:

• Market-driven growth pathways across housing, industrial & data centers, healthcare, and military
• What success looks like for mass timber adoption over the next 5–10 years
• Governance structure, roles, and decision-making as the Hub scales
• Near-term actions to support the Tech Hub—with or without federal funding

Key reflections from the discussion:

Participants consistently emphasized that the primary barriers to scaling mass timber are systemic—not functional. Confidence, repeatability, procurement norms, education, and supply-chain maturity emerged as critical constraints. Moving from customized projects to standardized, predictable pathways—and increasing familiarity among owners, regulators, insurers, and financiers—was seen as essential to scale.

The group also underscored the importance of framing mass timber’s value beyond carbon alone, highlighting benefits related to speed, workforce development, and regional economic impact. Feedback on the Hub’s mission, vision, and values called for clearer, more actionable language aligned with the Hub’s role to grow markets, innovate technology, and train the workforce.

Governance discussions broadly supported a board-led structure with Oregon State University serving as the administrative home, while raising important questions around representation, decision-making authority, and long-term sustainability beyond the grant period. We are grateful for the robust discussion, our volunteers for sub-committees, and the critical feedback for our governance revisions and refinements that will occur over the next several weeks.

MATERIALS: Workshop presentations, an attendee list, robust notes, and select photos taken by Dan Bihn can be found here.

ICYMI: OMTC primetime video

The Oregon Mass Timber Coalition has launched Oregon Mass Timber: Ready for Primetime—a new film highlighting how Oregon’s mass timber ecosystem has matured into a highly capable, deeply collaborative industry. Featuring projects at Portland State University and Oregon State University, the film makes it clear: mass timber is proven, scalable, and ready for both public and private buildings.

Watch the full film:

Watch the companion shorts:

The Warmth of Wood

Fabulous Fabrication—It's a Joy

Mass Timber Within Reach

Take action:

Watch, share, and repost to help amplify Oregon’s leadership in mass timber. If you are creating your own post, please make sure to tag the following organizations: Oregon Mass Timber Coalition; Portland State University; Oregon State University; Timberlab; Andersen Construction; ZGF; LEVER; Cut My Timber. Feel free to upload the film directly to your Youtube account using this Dropbox file for the high-res version. You can find the shorts and social media optimized versions here.  

Proposal Framework & Next Steps

PROPOSAL REMINDER: EDA Tech Hub Request ($33M)  

The PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub is 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.

• Forest Workforce Education and Training Center (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: Notice on Phase II advancement
• Feb 18, 2026: Phase II comprehensive application due
• Spring 2026: Awards announced
• 24–60 months: Period of performance

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.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars—and join PNW MTTH in Room G131 on Thursday, April 2, for a 12:30p PT gathering. Bring your own lunch and hang out a bit before you head to the Women in Timber meet up!

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

*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.