Michigan is moving to the forefront of sustainable building innovation with the launch of its new Mass Timber Catalyst Program — a statewide initiative designed to accelerate the use of engineered wood products in modern construction.
The program offers cash awards between $25,000 and $75,000, along with hands-on technical support and peer learning opportunities for developers, design teams, and property owners adopting mass timber as a primary structural or architectural material.
Advocates say Michigan is well positioned to take advantage of this growth. Although mass timber manufacturing does not yet exist in the state, industry interest is rising quickly. A recent Michigan State University (MSU) study notes that a mass timber facility producing 100,000 cubic meters annually could contribute more than $300 million to the state’s GDP while creating jobs and stimulating rural communities.
“Mass timber can become an integral and important part of Michigan’s forest products economy, which generates more than $26 billion annually,” said Sandra Lupien, director of MassTimber@MSU at Michigan State University.
State leaders view mass timber as a tool to address multiple priorities at once — including affordable housing, carbon reduction, and the revitalization of forestry regions.
Engineered wood products, such as cross-laminated timber, offer benefits like:
✅ Prefabricated components that speed up construction
✅ Reduced embodied carbon compared to concrete and steel
✅ Use of renewable and responsibly managed forest resources
✅ Warm, biophilic design aesthetics that appeal to tenants and developers
Michigan already has notable examples of these advantages. The STEM Teaching and Learning Building at MSU uses mass timber to reduce construction time and environmental footprint. Meanwhile, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Customer Service Center in Newberry — opened in 2024 — became the first facility in the state built using locally sourced wood panels.
The Catalyst Program is a collaboration between:
• Michigan DNR
• MassTimber@MSU
• Michigan Green Building Collaborative
• WoodWorks
Award recipients will enter a cohort led by MassTimber@MSU and WoodWorks to work through:
• Mass timber design decision-making
• Procurement and supply chain planning
• Cost estimation
• Code compliance and permitting challenges
The program is funded through a one-time State General Fund appropriation under Public Act 121 of 2024.
Michigan’s launch follows a surge in mass timber investment across the U.S.:
• New York City: The NYCEDC Mass Timber Studio offers $25,000 grants and technical help as part of its emissions reduction strategy.
• Southeast U.S.: The Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator, backed by the Georgia Forestry Foundation and USDA Forest Service, is supporting trailblazing timber projects and carbon accounting tools.
Together, these initiatives are advancing a shared objective — transforming building culture by replacing high-carbon materials with renewable timber products that support both climate resilience and economic development.
Originally reported by Ilana Amselem in Arch Paper.
