October 24, 2026

SOUTH / NATIONAL — OCTOBER 22 ANNOUNCEMENT

ORNL opens a new route from mill problems to pilot testing

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has launched CRAFT, a national center connecting pulp, paper and packaging manufacturers with research facilities and technical expertise. Announced October 22, it is led by ORNL with the Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies.

The Center for Research and Advancement of Forest Product Technologies will focus on pulping, chemical recovery, dewatering, drying and digital manufacturing. Its work combines modeling, experiments and pilot-scale demonstrations to examine new processes before commercial adoption.

The program welcomes manufacturers, equipment suppliers, technology developers and downstream customers to identify operating challenges and discuss research partnerships. Access to particular capabilities depends on availability and applicable agreements. Its first three years are intended to expand testing opportunities, develop research tools and connect technical specialists.

The center’s stated longer-term targets include 10%–25% better manufacturing energy efficiency and production-cost reductions of up to 17%. These are program goals, not measured savings already delivered to participating mills.

ORNL’s original announcement → ORNL announcement distributed through Newswise → CRAFT capabilities and industry participation →

NORTHEAST / U.S. END MARKETS — OCTOBER 22 FORECAST

Harvard projects little growth in home renovation spending

Annual U.S. homeowner improvement and repair spending is expected to remain near US$525 billion through the third quarter of 2027, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Its October 22 Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity outlook projects year-over-year growth of just 1.5% by that quarter.

The center reports flat-to-negative retail spending on building products and stagnant remodeling permits. It also cites declining housing starts and broader housing-market weakness as risks that could slow renovation growth further.

The forecast measures spending on improvements and repairs to owner-occupied homes. It is not a forecast of lumber volume, individual product prices or any one supplier’s sales. The center also notes that September’s Census retail-sales re-benchmarking changed some historical LIRA quarterly spending estimates by less than 1%, with marginal effects on growth rates.

Harvard’s original dated forecast and methodology note →

CANADA — ALBERTA / EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST DUE DECEMBER 16

C$60 million challenge includes forestry field demonstrations

Emissions Reduction Alberta announced a C$60 million Agriculture, Water, and Land Challenge on October 23. Forestry, land-restoration and waste-to-value projects are among the eligible fields. Funding supports field pilots, demonstrations and first-of-kind commercial deployments.

Applicants can be based outside Alberta, but projects must be piloted, demonstrated or deployed in the province. The detailed guidelines set a normal ERA contribution ceiling of C$8 million; exceptionally strong projects may receive up to C$10 million. At least a 1:1 private funding match is required, with eligible cash and in-kind contributions counting toward it.

Expressions of interest close December 16 at 5 p.m. Mountain Time. An information webinar runs November 12 from 11 a.m. to noon Mountain. The challenge excludes standalone feasibility studies, software without field deployment and routine integration of established commercial technologies. Shortlisted applicants proceed to a full proposal stage.

ERA’s original October 23 announcement → Current program and webinar registration → Detailed funding guidelines and exceptions →

WEST — COLORADO / TOUR RSVP DUE OCTOBER 26

South Highlands mastication bid requires an October 28 field tour

The National Forest Foundation seeks a contractor for 126 acres of mastication and thinning on private land near the San Isabel National Forest in Chaffee County. Contractors must RSVP by October 26 to ssmith@nationalforests.org for the mandatory October 28 tour.

The South Highlands RFP requires a large masticator with a vertical or horizontal head capable of working slopes above 20%; skid-steer equipment is not acceptable. Completion by December 31 is preferred, although work into 2027 is allowed.

Proposals are due November 6 at 5 p.m. The RFP labels that time “MDT,” although daylight saving time ends November 1; the named contact is the clarification route for that discrepancy. This is a current bid opportunity, not an awarded contract.

Full South Highlands scope, equipment requirements and calendar → NFF’s current procurement listing →