Forest Concepts, LLC of Auburn received a $1 million grant funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research program and Small Business Technology Transfer program.

Forest Concepts is a national leader in woody biomass technology. Its products and innovations enable low cost supply of biomass feedstocks to energy and second generation biofuels producers. The company is located at 3320 W. Valley Highway N.

The Auburn company was among five Washington state small businesses that received aid, joining Enertechnix, Inc., in Redmond ($999,995), Houghton Cascade Holdings, LLC in Tacoma ($998,367), Hummingbird Precision Machine Inc., in Olympia ($1,000,000) and Eagle Harbor Technologies, Inc., in Bainbridge Island ($860,226).

“This is great news for the companies receiving these grants and the entire state of Washington,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire, who announced the awards Monday. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy – and any financial investment to help our small business owners succeed, expand and create new jobs is welcome news. I applaud the recipients for their innovation, and have full faith this funding will contribute to additional success – addressing new energy technologies while putting people to work.”

For more information, visit www.science.doe.gov/sbir/Awards.html.

About Forest Concepts LLC

Established in 1998, privately-held Forest Concepts LLC is a forest products company with a new way of thinking about the industry and markets for wood-based materials. Forest Concepts and its co-founder Jim Dooley are nationally recognized leaders in the commercialization of new uses for smallwood and biomass that is available as a co-product of forest management and wildfire protection. The company develops and manufactures erosion control such as specialized smallwood structures and related materials for habitat enhancement, threatened and endangered species protection, environmental restoration, green building and landscape markets.