Softwood Lumber Board

What Softwood Lumber Board does

The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) is an industry-funded checkoff organization established in 2011 under USDA authority following a super-majority industry vote, with operations beginning in 2012. Its mandate is to grow demand for softwood lumber products in outdoor, residential, and non-residential construction. SLB delivers this mandate through four core funded programs—Think Wood (communications and content marketing), the American Wood Council (codes, standards, and technical advocacy), WoodWorks (free project assistance and education for architects and developers), and SLB Education (professional and academic training)—and serves architects, engineers, developers, contractors, code officials, students, and municipal governments.

SLB's core product is funded programs rather than physical goods. In 2025 these programs generated 1.5 billion board feet of incremental lumber demand, reached 405 projects directly through WoodWorks assistance, delivered 129,700 hours of professional education, and engaged 61,100 highly engaged users through Think Wood. Strategic platforms extending the core include the Accelerator Cities Program (with named initiatives in Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Portland, and Santa Monica, providing $75,000-$150,000 city-level grants and $25,000 individual project awards), the Mass Timber Competition (awarding $1.8 million to K-12 projects in 2025), administration of the USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant Program (~$2 million in 2025 awards to ten projects), and the Wood Institute online learning portal (170+ courses, 17,426 course completions in 2025). The SLB also participates in international code development through the American Wood Council, advancing provisions that delivered an estimated $104 million in annual construction cost savings.

SLB's revenue model is a statutorily authorized industry checkoff of $0.41 per thousand board feet assessed on U.S. manufacturers and importers shipping at least 15 million board feet annually, generating a 2026 operating budget of $18,318,260. This base is amplified by a co-funding model in which every $100 of SLB investment leverages approximately $93 in additional outside funding, with the USDA Forest Service alone contributing close to $100 million in cumulative co-investment since 2015. Governance rests with a 14-seat industry board that is regionally balanced (10 U.S. and 4 Canadian seats) plus a public member seat. Independent evaluation by Prime Consulting attributes $43 of return per $1 invested (cumulative since 2012) and 17.2 billion board feet of incremental lumber demand (2012-2025) to SLB programs. The organization does not have a parent company or subsidiaries in the traditional corporate sense.

Name

Softwood Lumber Board

Legal name

Softwood Lumber Board

Website

https://softwoodlumberboard.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Softwood Lumber Board is an industry-funded checkoff organization that grows softwood lumber demand through funded programs (Think Wood, WoodWorks, AWC, SLB Education) and the Accelerator Cities initiative, serving architects, engineers, developers, contractors, code officials, and municipal governments under USDA authority.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Softwood Lumber Market Development Services

NAICS

Sawmills and Wood Preservation (32111), Engineered Wood Member Manufacturing (321215)

SIC

Sawmills & Planting Mills, General (2421), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Softwood Lumber Sawmills (IMAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Softwood Plywood Manufacturing (IMAMACAA)

Keywords

• Softwood lumber promotion
• Lumber market development
• Mass timber advocacy
• Building codes education
• Wood construction technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

West Linn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Checkoff Assessment: The SLB is funded by an industry assessment of $0.41 per thousand board feet on U.S. manufacturers and importers shipping at least 15 million board feet annually into the U.S. market. This checkoff program was established under USDA authority in 2011 and supports marketing and research programs to grow demand for softwood lumber.
2. Government and Partner Co-funding: SLB leverages its investments to attract additional funding from government agencies (USDA Forest Service) and industry partners. Every $100 invested leverages $93 in additional outside funding from government and industry partners. The SLB and USDA Forest Service have co-invested nearly $100 million since 2015.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Softwood Lumber Board is an industry-funded checkoff organization that collects mandatory assessments from softwood lumber manufacturers and importers and reinvests the proceeds in market development programs. Its core deliverables include technical project assistance (via WoodWorks), professional and design-community education (via SLB Education and the Wood Institute), building codes and standards advocacy (via American Wood Council), and communications/marketing campaigns (via Think Wood), all aimed at growing softwood lumber demand across multifamily, commercial, education, and single-family construction.

Product overview

The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) is an industry-funded checkoff initiative that operates as a platform of interconnected programs to promote softwood lumber in construction. The core SLB organization coordinates four funded programs—Think Wood (communications), American Wood Council (building standards), WoodWorks (project assistance), and SLB Education (professional training)—supplemented by the Wood Institute online learning portal. Strategic initiatives include the Accelerator Cities Program for municipal engagement and the Mass Timber Competition for K-12 schools. The SLB also administers Wood Innovations Grants in partnership with USDA Forest Service. Together, these programs generated 1.5 billion board feet of incremental lumber demand in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Think Wood: Communications campaign encouraging those who specify and install building materials to use wood, increasing awareness of wood's benefits in residential and non-residential buildings.
• American Wood Council
• WoodWorks
• SLB Education
• Accelerator Cities Program
• Mass Timber Competition
• Wood Institute

Products and services

• Think Wood Think Wood is a communications and education campaign that provides commercial, multifamily, and single-family home design and build resources to architects, developers, and contractors, encouraging them to specify wood in projects. It has generated 61,100 highly engaged users with 72% indicating greater likelihood to specify wood.
• American Wood Council American Wood Council is the nation's leading technical authority and advocate for the sustainable wood building products industry. It pursues opportunities in building standards development, technical research, and design tools to open new markets for softwood lumber and advances key lumber provisions in the ICC code development process.
• WoodWorks WoodWorks is a non-profit program that helps developers and design teams use wood in commercial and multifamily buildings. It provides free project assistance, continuing education, design tools, and technical resources to increase consumption and market share of softwood lumber in multifamily and non-residential construction, directly influencing 405 projects in 2025 generating 580 MM BF of incremental demand.
• SLB Education SLB Education works to increase knowledge of wood design and construction among design and construction professionals, code officials, developers, students, and faculty of postsecondary institutions. It includes faculty development workshops (300+ new faculty trained) and the Mass Timber Installer Training program with 75 training centers nationwide.
• Accelerator Cities Program Accelerator Cities Program is a federal and industry-supported initiative promoting sustainable wood building systems in U.S. cities through financial, technical, and educational support. Cities receive $75,000-$150,000 with 50% matching requirements to develop early-phase wood construction projects, with individual project awards of approximately $25,000. Active cities include Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Portland, and Santa Monica.
• Mass Timber Competition Mass Timber Competition is an annual competition jointly funded by SLB and USDA Forest Service that awards funding to projects accelerating the adoption of mass timber in K-12 educational environments, showcasing the application, practicality, and role of mass timber as a climate solution.
• Wood Institute Online Learning Portal Wood Institute is an online learning portal offering 170+ courses on wood design, construction, and codes, approved for AIA, GBCI, ICC, and NCSEA continuing education credit. Free access with 17,426 courses completed in 2025 and 5,170 new accounts created.
• Wood Innovations Grant Program Wood Innovations Grant Program is administered by SLB on behalf of USDA Forest Service, managing nearly $2 million in annual awards to support 10 projects that advance the development, testing, and adoption of innovative wood products and mass timber systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 billion board feet of incremental demand generated in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• C40 CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SLB will begin a national cohort-based partnership with C40 Cities in 2026, augmenting the existing Accelerator Cities model by activating multiple municipalities simultaneously through a trusted network with strong relationships with urban sustainability leaders. This partnership extends program reach while reinforcing core framework.
• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The SLB and USDA Forest Service have co-invested nearly $100 million since 2015 in programs that expand markets for softwood lumber. The partnership includes the Wood Innovations Grant program, Accelerator Cities Program, and Mass Timber Competition. In 2025, the Forest Service provided an additional $1 million to the Accelerator Cities Program alongside $500,000 from SLB and $250,000 from U.S. Endowment.
• WoodWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore funded program charged with increasing consumption and market share of softwood lumber in commercial and multifamily buildings. Provides free technical project assistance, continuing education, design tools, and on-demand resources. Directly influenced 405 projects in 2025 generating 580 MM BF of incremental lumber demand.
• Think WoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore funded program - communications and education campaign providing commercial, multifamily, and single-family home design and build resources to architects, developers, and contractors. Generated 61,100 highly engaged users with 72% indicating greater likelihood to specify wood. Co-nurturing with WoodWorks tripled lead conversion rates to 35%.
• American Wood Council (AWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore funded program - nation's leading technical authority and advocate for wood building products in codes, standards, and sustainability. Advances key lumber provisions in ICC code development process. Defeated proposals limiting mass timber and advanced code clarifications saving estimated $104 million annually in construction costs.
• Georgia Forestry FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with SLB and USDA Forest Service on Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator Program. Awarded $75,000 in funding in 2025 to projects exploring mass timber in Georgia including residential, educational, and community buildings. Program expanded through Mass Timber Hubs in Columbus, Savannah, Athens, and Macon.
• City of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Accelerator City launching the Boston Mass Timber Accelerator in 2021. Program awarded seven projects in 2022 and three additional projects in 2023. Bunker Hill project includes six-story affordable housing with CLT system and nine-story mass timber hybrid. Final report found eight active projects totaling over 1.3 million sq. ft.
• New York City Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with SLB on NYC Mass Timber Studio. Awarded seven projects in first phase (early 2024) including four multifamily buildings, a mixed-use industrial space, public library branch, and recreation center. Second cohort announced August 2025 includes New York Climate Exchange (140,000+ SF) and 500-unit Stapleton B4/B5 Residential.
• City of Portland Housing BureaumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Portland Mass Timber Accelerator in 2025 with $450,000 in combined funding from SLB, Forest Service, and PHB. Program will support up to six projects conducting early-phase feasibility studies exploring mass timber construction. Aligns with Portland's 2050 carbon neutrality goals.
• City of Santa MonicamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Santa Monica Mass Timber Accelerator in 2025 with $115,000 in total funding. Program will support up to five early-phase development projects exploring technical and financial feasibility of mass timber construction. Partnership with AIA Los Angeles includes communications and outreach to design and construction community.
• United Brotherhood of CarpentersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodWorks formalized partnership with UBC to strengthen union pathways for mass timber construction. Supports the Mass Timber Installer Training program which has established 75 training centers nationwide and delivered 46,160 training hours since inception.
• Steel Erectors Association of AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoodWorks partnered with SEAA to expand non-union pathways for mass timber construction. Collaboration supports workforce development and contractor training initiatives nationwide.
• Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLB collaborated with ACSA on Timber in the City student competition and Administrators Conference workshop. Engages academic leaders who control curriculum standards and resource allocation to institutionalize wood curriculum in postsecondary architecture programs.
• KL&AminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm developing engineering data and design methods for NLT panels made from Colorado-sourced lumber through Wood Innovations Grant. Validates local species for longer spans and cost-effective fabrication, supporting regional markets for restoration timber.
• TimberlabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming ASTM E119 fire testing on glulam beams with mechanical and electrical penetrations to develop safe, code-supported detailing methods through Wood Innovations Grant. Results enable more efficient MEP routing and improve design flexibility for mass timber projects.
• Modus StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFayetteville-based architecture firm leading $258,000 grant project to develop cross-laminated timber storm shelter prototype using Southern Yellow Pine that meets ICC 500 FEMA safe room standards. Team includes Aspect Engineers, Mercer Mass Timber, Sterling Structural, and ICC-ES.
• Forest Economic Advisors (FEA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEA provides market analysis and housing dashboards that inform SLB strategic planning. SLB turned FEA's 2026 Construction Market Outlook into a custom GPT for easy access by SLB-funded programs and partners. Analysis projects wood's significant growth potential in non-residential construction.
• Prime ConsultingminorOthersIndependent third-party evaluator with considerable experience measuring industry checkoff programs. Conducts annual audits and ROI calculations evaluating SLB effectiveness. Report confirmed SLB has generated more than 17.2 billion board feet of incremental demand from 2012 through 2025.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Timber Innovation Council (Canada): Canadian industry coalition promoting mass timber and wood innovation in Canadian construction. Comparable to SLB's WoodWorks and Accelerator Cities programs as a mass timber market development organization, but focused on Canada rather than U.S. municipalities.

Direct peers

• National Pork Board: National pork checkoff organization funded by per-head swine assessments under USDA oversight. Comparable to SLB as a federally authorized commodity checkoff that channels producer assessments into research, promotion, and education to expand U.S. pork demand.
• United Soybean Board: Soybean checkoff organization funded by per-bushel assessments under USDA authority. Comparable to SLB as a federally authorized commodity checkoff deploying producer checkoff dollars into marketing, research, and education programs to grow end-market demand.
• National Hardwood Lumber Association: U.S. trade association promoting hardwood lumber grading standards, usage, and demand. Directly comparable to SLB as a lumber industry association with grading, education, and market development missions, but focused on hardwood rather than softwood species.
• Cattlemen's Beef Board: National beef checkoff organization funded by per-head cattle assessments and overseen by USDA. Comparable to SLB as a USDA-authorized commodity checkoff using industry assessments for marketing, research, and education to drive demand for the underlying commodity.

Broad incumbents

• Portland Cement Association: National trade group advancing cement and concrete in U.S. construction. Comparable to SLB as a competing building-materials advocacy organization pursuing codes/standards development, technical research, and market promotion — but representing concrete rather than wood.
• American Concrete Institute: Global authority on concrete standards, codes, and education. Comparable to SLB's American Wood Council program in its role advancing building code provisions and design professional training — but representing concrete as a competing structural material.
• American Forest & Paper Association: National U.S. trade association for the forest products industry (including softwood lumber, pulp, paper, and wood products). Comparable to SLB as a broad industry advocacy and market development organization, but with a wider portfolio covering all forest products rather than softwood lumber specifically.
• North American Steel Construction Council: Industry trade group advancing structural steel in commercial and multifamily construction. Directly comparable to SLB as a competing building-materials advocacy organization pursuing code development, design professional education, and market development — but for steel rather than wood.

Others

• Forest Resources Association: U.S. trade association for timber harvesting, log buying, and timberland management. Adjacent to SLB as a forestry industry association but focused on the upstream harvesting/logging supply chain rather than softwood lumber market development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/softwoodlumberboard
• Xx.com/lumberboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Softwood Lumber Board