In the aftermath of the 2013 Rim Fire, what was then the largest fire in the history of the Sierra Nevada, the state of California received a National Disaster Resilience Competition grant from the federal government to help Tuolumne County rebuild in a more resilient manner, including the creation of stronger local markets for forest restoration byproducts.
In 2020, the SNC partnered with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) to establish a $17-million Biomass Utilization Fund (BUF). Interest in the new low-interest loan program has been strong. The RCAC is currently processing applications from numerous applicants looking to create new or expand existing wood-utilization businesses in Tuolumne County. Successful applicants will provide economically viable alternatives to pile-burning the small diameter trees, brush, and slash created by ecological forest health projects and create permanent employment opportunities in a small rural economy.
Projects financed by these loans are expected to boost Tuolumne County’s restoration economy by 2022.