Brookside Lumber Receives $1.54 Million State Grant
The Moravia sawmill plans to increase production capacity for crane mats using new state funding.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Landscaping
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The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has awarded $1.54 million to the family-owned Brookside Lumber in Moravia. This funding is part of a larger $45 million investment across 44 projects intended to bolster the state's forest products industry.
Why it matters
This investment is designed to strengthen local forest businesses and support the state's goal of planting 25 million trees. By removing production bottlenecks, these grants help ensure a more robust supply chain for essential timber and wood products used in infrastructure.
Brookside Lumber received $1.54 million as part of a $45 million state-wide initiative. Other notable awards include $509,860 for Hickory Hill Farms, $847,724 for Woodwise Forestry, and $1.85 million for Matthew Weir.
The players
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
The state agency responsible for overseeing environmental policy, managing public lands, and administering forest conservation and market development grants.
Brookside Lumber
A family-owned sawmill based in Moravia that specializes in timber procurement and the production of wood materials for the Finger Lakes region.
The details
Brookside Lumber, a sawmill located in Moravia, will utilize the state grant to remove existing production bottlenecks. This capital improvement is specifically targeted at increasing the facility's capacity to manufacture crane mats, which are essential for heavy-duty land and construction projects. These improvements are part of the broader Advancing Forest Markets initiative, which focuses on supporting sustainable management and the overall tree seedling supply chain.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: The Department of Environmental Conservation announced the grant awards.
The Home Front
This development marks a significant step in the state's Advancing Forest Markets initiative to modernize local wood processing. It aligns with New York State's 25 Million Trees goal by supporting the businesses that manage the state's forest health and product supply chains.
If you are planning major exterior landscaping or outdoor structure projects, monitor local timber supply trends as sawmill capacity increases in the Finger Lakes. Keep records of your home's wood-based landscaping investments to help assess project costs if regional market supply changes.
The takeaway
Supporting local sawmill capacity helps maintain a sustainable supply chain for regional timber projects. Homeowners should track how these infrastructure investments influence the availability of wood materials for future outdoor improvement projects.
Further reading
Learn more about local forestry resources in New York landscaping.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
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