Accelerator Funds Mass Timber Projects in DC

The DC Mass Timber Accelerator offers $160,000 in funding, technical assistance, and professional education for eligible District construction projects.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Construction

Accelerator Funds Mass Timber Projects in DC

Live Poll

Should D.C. encourage wood-based mass timber construction in new buildings?

The Washington Architectural Foundation launched the DC Mass Timber Accelerator, a partnership with the Softwood Lumber Board, USDA Forest Service, and U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. The program will award $160,000 in total funding across several eligible District projects, and proposals are now open.

Why it matters

The program comes as Washington, D.C., considers how new development can meet the needs of a growing city while contributing to the quality of its built environment. It aims to support the use of mass timber in local construction.

The Accelerator will award $160,000 in total funding for District projects, part of a broader network that has invested $2.1 million since 2022 in Boston, New York City, Georgia, Santa Monica, Portland, Oregon, and Alabama. The number of projects to be funded has not been specified.

The players

Washington Architectural Foundation

The Washington Architectural Foundation is a local nonprofit organization that leads architectural and design initiatives in the District of Columbia.

Softwood Lumber Board

The Softwood Lumber Board is an industry organization that promotes softwood lumber products and funds mass timber construction programs across the United States.

USDA Forest Service

The USDA Forest Service is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages national forests and grasslands and supports sustainable forest products.

The details

Projects are selected through a competitive Request for Proposals process, and funding supports project-specific analysis and design work during early development phases. The Accelerator examines technical and financial feasibility, including design, construction schedules, costs, building performance, and lifecycle impacts, with WoodWorks serving as technical assistance partner.

2022: Softwood Lumber Board Accelerator Cities network investments began.
November 4, 2026: DC Mass Timber Accelerator launch announced and proposals opened.

Market Landscape

The DC Mass Timber Accelerator extends the Softwood Lumber Board's Accelerator Cities network, which has invested $2.1 million since 2022 in Boston, New York City, Georgia, Santa Monica, Portland, Oregon, and Alabama. The expansion reflects a continued effort to build demand for mass timber construction in major U.S. cities.

Developers and architects in Washington, D.C. can submit proposals for funding and technical assistance for eligible mass timber projects. The program is open now and offers support for early-stage analysis and design work.

The takeaway

Mass timber is gaining traction in urban construction, and early-stage funding can help projects test feasibility before committing to full development. Interested developers should review the Request for Proposals requirements carefully.