A start-up maker of eco-friendly building materials in Brown County will receive a $60,000 grant for a project that is expected to increase profits for both the paper and construction industries.

The grant will help Bayland LLC, De Pere, test and market decorative brick made from significant amounts of wood waste.

The grant was announced Aug. 17 by Rod Nilsestuen, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

"By tapping into the state's great forest resources, the potential for creating new products and jobs in the bio economy is enormous," said Nilsestuen.

Grant recipient and founded of Bayland, LLC, C.J. Schmidt, has developed a lightweight faux brick product as well as roof tiles and paneling that are made from the residuals of the state's paper making industry, or wood waste. Schmidt is collaborating with Northeast Technical College, Focus on Energy, and the Wisconsin Paper Council to develop these products.

The state's paper mills generate millions of tons of waste annually that must be disposed of at cost to both the paper manufacturer and the environment.

"By beneficially using substantial amounts of residuals in the manufacture of these faux stone products, we will decrease the burden on Wisconsin landfills and lower disposal costs for Wisconsin paper manufacturers," said Schmidt.

Because the bio-based products weigh half as much as the products they replace, Schmidt anticipates lower building costs with the same appearance as traditional masonry.

Grant funds come from the state's first-ever Biobased Industry Opportunity (BIO) Grant Program. The program is designed to help businesses and individuals develop ways to use plant and animal resources for renewable energy, fuels, or products.

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