WASHINGTON - The Timber Innovation Act, bipartisan legislation that could advance the adoption of tall wood building construction in the U.S., is being applauded by industry leaders.

“We applaud the members of Congress who co-sponsored the Timber Innovation Act bill and encourage others to sign on," said Valerie Johnson, president and CEO of D.R. Johnson Wood Innovations. D.R. Johnson is the first U.S. company to receive APA/ANSI certification to manufacture structural CLT panels. They're hoping to help grow the U.S. market. 

ARTICLE Tall wood building trend sparks new market; D.R. Johnson ready to serve The Timber City exhibit is drawing attention to the recent boom in the worldwide movement toward timber construction. It's a market that lumber firms like D.R. Johnson are gearing up to serve.

"As the nation's first certified manufacturer of cross-laminated timber, my team has worked with architects, engineers and researchers to pioneer mass timber construction in the U.S.," continued Johnson. "We're proud of what we've been able to accomplish thus far and know that focused investment in this emerging sector can be a game changer. Mass timber construction can drive the green building revolution of the 21st century and catalyze job creation in rural areas. It is a win-win."

The Timber Innovation Act would effectively:

• Establish a performance driven research and development program for advancing tall wood building construction in the United States;
• Authorize the Tall Wood Building Prize Competition through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) annually for the next five years;
• Create federal grants to support state, local, university and private sector education, outreach, research and development, including education and assistance for architects and builders, that will accelerate the use of wood in tall buildings;
• Authorize technical assistance from USDA, in cooperation with state foresters and state extension directors (or equivalent state officials), to implement a program of education and technical assistance for mass timber applications; and
• Incentivize the retrofitting of existing facilities located in areas with high unemployment rates, to spur job creation in rural areas.