Another $60 million is being poured into the province’s biomass program.

The Ontario Forest Biomass Program helps companies and organizations develop projects that used underutilized wood and mill by-products, known as biomass.

The program was created last spring following a government report that identified potential uses of forest biomass.

Natural Resources Minister Graydon Smith says the new money is a commitment to the program and the forest industry in northern Ontario.

“The forest biomass program will support their contribution and create real opportunity across this province, opportunity for industry, for Indigenous communities, academia and stakeholders that build prosperity for workers, families and communities,” says Smith.

Applications for the program’s second yearly allocation of $20 million will open later this year.

It will be open to businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities and nonprofit organizations.

Since its establishment, the program has provided over $17 million to 41 projects across the province.

Smith announced in January $9 million to support 14 initiatives in northwestern Ontario.