penn’s woods: the forest resource and forest products...
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Penn’s Woods: The Forest Resource andForest Products Industry of Pennsylvania
Produced by:
Pennsylvania Forest Products Association545 West Chocolate AvenueHershey, PA 17033Telephone: (717) 312-1244Fax: (717) 312-1335
with a grant provided by:
Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development CouncilPennsylvania Department of Agriculture2301 North Cameron Street, Room 308Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408Telephone: (717) 772-3715Fax: (717) 705-0663
1
the citizens of the Commonwealth with
a vast array of benefits. The forests
provide a source of a variety of
recreational opportunities. Forests
provide habitat for a diverse range of
plants, animals, birds and fish. Forests
help to purify the water we drink.
The forests of Pennsylvania also produce
a renewable forest products resource
that supports a keystone to the state’s
economy. Pennsylvania’s forest products
industry generates $5.5 billion in sales
annually and employs nearly 90,000
individuals at over 3,000 facilities across
the state.
This publication describes the forest
resource in the state and how it supports
the state’s forest products industry.
Pennsylvania’sForest ResourceThe current success of Pennsylvania’s hardwood isa continuation of the state’s industrial heritageand its relationship with the forest.
This has been the case since Europeansettlers first settled in Pennsylvania.From colonial times to the early 1900’s,Pennsylvania’s forests were harvested toprovide land for agriculture and woodproducts to support the growth anddevelopment of the nation.
By the early 1900’s, much of Pennsylvania’sforests were cut over and forest cover amountedto only about 30 percent of the state’s land area.Since that time, the forests have recovered anddeveloped into the beautiful and bountifulresource that we now have in Pennsylvania.
Today, Pennsylvania has 16.7 million acres ofhardwood forest, which covers 58 percent of thestate’s land mass. Pennsylvania has essentially thesame number of forested acres as it did in 1989and more than in 1955.
Source: U.S. Forest Service
The forests in Pennsylvania provide
1
the citizens of the Commonwealth with
a vast array of benefits. The forests
provide a source of a variety of
recreational opportunities. Forests
provide habitat for a diverse range of
plants, animals, birds and fish. Forests
help to purify the water we drink.
The forests of Pennsylvania also produce
a renewable forest products resource
that supports a keystone to the state’s
economy. Pennsylvania’s forest products
industry generates $5.5 billion in sales
annually and employs nearly 90,000
individuals at over 3,000 facilities across
the state.
This publication describes the forest
resource in the state and how it supports
the state’s forest products industry.
Pennsylvania’sForest ResourceThe current success of Pennsylvania’s hardwood isa continuation of the state’s industrial heritageand its relationship with the forest.
This has been the case since Europeansettlers first settled in Pennsylvania.From colonial times to the early 1900’s,Pennsylvania’s forests were harvested toprovide land for agriculture and woodproducts to support the growth anddevelopment of the nation.
By the early 1900’s, much of Pennsylvania’sforests were cut over and forest cover amountedto only about 30 percent of the state’s land area.Since that time, the forests have recovered anddeveloped into the beautiful and bountifulresource that we now have in Pennsylvania.
Today, Pennsylvania has 16.7 million acres ofhardwood forest, which covers 58 percent of thestate’s land mass. Pennsylvania has essentially thesame number of forested acres as it did in 1989and more than in 1955.
Source: U.S. Forest Service
The forests in Pennsylvania provide
Pennsylvania has one of the nation’slargest concentrations of hardwoodgrowing stock, with species such as Red Maple, Black Cherry, Northern RedOak and Sugar Maple being the mostprevalent trees in the state. The volumeof live trees in the state is 33.7 billioncubic feet, an increase of 23 percentsince 1989.
As a result of its industrial past,Pennsylvania’s forests are generallyeven-aged and now reaching a point ofmaturity. Much of the state’s forestscontaining large, high quality,commercially valuable trees that are 80to 120 years old. Over 9 million acres,or 58 percent of the forest in the stateconsist of stands that are predominantlysawtimber-sized trees. Overall, thevolume of sawtimber in the state in2002 was 86.3 billion board feet, an 18percent increase in volume since 1989.
Hardwoods account for about 90percent of the sawtimber volume.Softwood species, including easternhemlock, white pine and red pine,account for about ten percent of thesawtimber volume in Pennsylvania.Between 1989 and 2002, sawtimbervolume increased for all of the mostprominent species in the state, with the exception of sugar maple.
The volume of poletimber in the state is 8,575 million cubic feet. Red Maple,Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Chestnut,Oak and Birch are among the mostprevalent species for trees of this size.
32
ForestSustainabilityPennsylvania is a national leader in theimplementation and promotion of sustainableforestry practices that support a thrivingforest products industry, while ensuring thatthe forests in the state are available toprovide renewable forest products and otherbenefits for future generations.
Approximately 2.4 million acres of forestlandin Pennsylvania have been independentlycertified as sustainably managed under thecriteria of the Forest Stewardship Council(FSC). This includes over 2.1 million acres ofstate forestland managed by the PennsylvaniaBureau of Forestry. Morethan 30 Pennsylvania sawmillsand value-added processorsare chain of custody certifiedto manufacture and provideFSC certified product fromthese forests.
Pennsylvania also has beena leader in the SustainableForestry Initiative (SFI). SFIis a voluntary industry-sponsored program that promotes sustainableforest management decisions and harvestingpractices by landowners, loggers and forestryprofessionals. Over 5,000 loggers haveparticipated in SFI training and more than20,000 landowner information packets havebeen distributed.
Private forest landowners can receive additionaleducation and technical assistance to managetheir woodlot from a variety of sources,including the American Tree Farm System, thePennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Penn Statecooperatives extension, Pennsylvania ForestStewardship Program, local forest landownergroups and other organizations.
Sapling/Seedlings are trees less than 5.0 inches diameter at breast height (DBH)Poletimber are trees 5.0 to 11.0 DBH (5.0 to 9.0 DBH for softwood)
Sawtimber are trees greater than 11.0 inches DBH (greater than 9.0 inches for softwood)
Pennsylvania has one of the nation’slargest concentrations of hardwoodgrowing stock, with species such as Red Maple, Black Cherry, Northern RedOak and Sugar Maple being the mostprevalent trees in the state. The volumeof live trees in the state is 33.7 billioncubic feet, an increase of 23 percentsince 1989.
As a result of its industrial past,Pennsylvania’s forests are generallyeven-aged and now reaching a point ofmaturity. Much of the state’s forestscontaining large, high quality,commercially valuable trees that are 80to 120 years old. Over 9 million acres,or 58 percent of the forest in the stateconsist of stands that are predominantlysawtimber-sized trees. Overall, thevolume of sawtimber in the state in2002 was 86.3 billion board feet, an 18percent increase in volume since 1989.
Hardwoods account for about 90percent of the sawtimber volume.Softwood species, including easternhemlock, white pine and red pine,account for about ten percent of thesawtimber volume in Pennsylvania.Between 1989 and 2002, sawtimbervolume increased for all of the mostprominent species in the state, with the exception of sugar maple.
The volume of poletimber in the state is 8,575 million cubic feet. Red Maple,Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Chestnut,Oak and Birch are among the mostprevalent species for trees of this size.
32
ForestSustainabilityPennsylvania is a national leader in theimplementation and promotion of sustainableforestry practices that support a thrivingforest products industry, while ensuring thatthe forests in the state are available toprovide renewable forest products and otherbenefits for future generations.
Approximately 2.4 million acres of forestlandin Pennsylvania have been independentlycertified as sustainably managed under thecriteria of the Forest Stewardship Council(FSC). This includes over 2.1 million acres ofstate forestland managed by the PennsylvaniaBureau of Forestry. Morethan 30 Pennsylvania sawmillsand value-added processorsare chain of custody certifiedto manufacture and provideFSC certified product fromthese forests.
Pennsylvania also has beena leader in the SustainableForestry Initiative (SFI). SFIis a voluntary industry-sponsored program that promotes sustainableforest management decisions and harvestingpractices by landowners, loggers and forestryprofessionals. Over 5,000 loggers haveparticipated in SFI training and more than20,000 landowner information packets havebeen distributed.
Private forest landowners can receive additionaleducation and technical assistance to managetheir woodlot from a variety of sources,including the American Tree Farm System, thePennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Penn Statecooperatives extension, Pennsylvania ForestStewardship Program, local forest landownergroups and other organizations.
Sapling/Seedlings are trees less than 5.0 inches diameter at breast height (DBH)Poletimber are trees 5.0 to 11.0 DBH (5.0 to 9.0 DBH for softwood)
Sawtimber are trees greater than 11.0 inches DBH (greater than 9.0 inches for softwood)
The largest share of Pennsylvania’s forestis owned by private individuals andorganizations, accounting for almost 70percent of the forest acreage in the state.It is estimated that the forest productsindustry accounts for about five percentof this acreage. There are over 500,000private owners of forest in the state.
These private lands provide the bulk ofthe resource needs for the state’s forestproducts companies. It is legal to harvesttimber on private forestland throughoutthe state. Forestry and timber harvestingoperations are subject to regulationaddresing issues related to streamcrossing, wetland disturbance, and soilerosion and sedimentation control. Somelocal municipalities also have regulationsregarding forestry, timber harvestingoperations and transportation issues.
Over 30 percent of Pennsylvania’s forestsare owned and managed by a governmententity– either a federal or state agency, ora local unit of government. The largestgovernment land managers inPennsylvania include the PennsylvaniaBureau of Forestry (2.1 million acres), thePennsylvania Game Commission (1.1million acres) and the United States ForestService (513,000 acres).
Despite accounting for nearly a third ofthe forest ownership, government-owned lands provide less than tenpercent of the annual resource needs ofthe state’s forest products companies.Federal and state managed forests inPennsylvania sell about 70 million boardfeet of sawtimber and roughly 80,000–100,000 hundred cubic feet ofpulpwood each year. Access to timber
and pulpwood on the U.S. Forest ServiceAllegheny National Forest has been greatlyreduced over the past decade by litigationfrom environmental activists.
The state Bureau of Forestry recently revisedits forest management plan, which calls forannual sawtimber sales of 56 million boardfeet and pulpwood sales of 43 million boardfeet (approximately 66,000 Hcf). In 2004, theU.S. Forest Service was in the process ofrevising its forest management plan, whichincludes an anticipated revision to itsallowable cut.
Ownershipand access
54
PENNSYLVANIA’S FORESTOWNERSHIP 2002
Percentage of Forestland Area
PrivatelyOwned68.9%
GovernmentOwned31.1%
Source: U.S. Forest Service
SAWTIMBER SALES FROM KEYGOVERNMENT OWNERS 1996-2003
million board feet
PULPWOOD SALES FROM KEYGOVERNMENT OWNERS 1996-2003
hundred cubic feet
GO
VER
NM
EN
T O
WN
ER
S K
EYST
ATE
FO
RES
TST
ATE
GA
MEL
AN
DS
A
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ATI
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EST
The largest share of Pennsylvania’s forestis owned by private individuals andorganizations, accounting for almost 70percent of the forest acreage in the state.It is estimated that the forest productsindustry accounts for about five percentof this acreage. There are over 500,000private owners of forest in the state.
These private lands provide the bulk ofthe resource needs for the state’s forestproducts companies. It is legal to harvesttimber on private forestland throughoutthe state. Forestry and timber harvestingoperations are subject to regulationaddresing issues related to streamcrossing, wetland disturbance, and soilerosion and sedimentation control. Somelocal municipalities also have regulationsregarding forestry, timber harvestingoperations and transportation issues.
Over 30 percent of Pennsylvania’s forestsare owned and managed by a governmententity– either a federal or state agency, ora local unit of government. The largestgovernment land managers inPennsylvania include the PennsylvaniaBureau of Forestry (2.1 million acres), thePennsylvania Game Commission (1.1million acres) and the United States ForestService (513,000 acres).
Despite accounting for nearly a third ofthe forest ownership, government-owned lands provide less than tenpercent of the annual resource needs ofthe state’s forest products companies.Federal and state managed forests inPennsylvania sell about 70 million boardfeet of sawtimber and roughly 80,000–100,000 hundred cubic feet ofpulpwood each year. Access to timber
and pulpwood on the U.S. Forest ServiceAllegheny National Forest has been greatlyreduced over the past decade by litigationfrom environmental activists.
The state Bureau of Forestry recently revisedits forest management plan, which calls forannual sawtimber sales of 56 million boardfeet and pulpwood sales of 43 million boardfeet (approximately 66,000 Hcf). In 2004, theU.S. Forest Service was in the process ofrevising its forest management plan, whichincludes an anticipated revision to itsallowable cut.
Ownershipand access
54
PENNSYLVANIA’S FORESTOWNERSHIP 2002
Percentage of Forestland Area
PrivatelyOwned68.9%
GovernmentOwned31.1%
Source: U.S. Forest Service
SAWTIMBER SALES FROM KEYGOVERNMENT OWNERS 1996-2003
million board feet
PULPWOOD SALES FROM KEYGOVERNMENT OWNERS 1996-2003
hundred cubic feet
GO
VER
NM
EN
T O
WN
ER
S K
EYST
ATE
FO
RES
TST
ATE
GA
MEL
AN
DS
A
LLEG
HEN
Y N
ATI
ON
AL
FOR
EST
76
The vast, high quality forest resource inPennsylvania supports a diverse and dynamicforest products industry that is a driving forcein the economy of the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania produces $5.5 billion in forestproducts annually.
The state’s forest products industry includesforesters and loggers, sawmills, woodconcentration and distribution facilities veneerproducers, paper companies, pallet companies,value-added manufacturers.
Pennsylvania is recognized as the nation’sleader in the production of hardwood lumber,accounting for about ten percent of the totalamount of the total annual U.S. output.Pennsylvania is also a leading manufacturer ofmany value-added wood products, includingcabinets and furniture, flooring, interiormillwork products and pallets.
Pennsylvania companies manufacture anddistribute a variety of products including,
In 2002, there were 3,047 forest productestablishments in Pennsylvania, employing 86,736individuals. This accounts for over eleven percentof the state’s manufacturing workforce.
Additionally, Pennsylvania is home to over48,000 self-employed individuals and othernon-employer business involved in theproduction of forest products.
Combined, approximately 135,000 individualsderive income from working in the forestproducts industry.
The forest products industry has a presence inevery county of the Commonwealth. LancasterCounty has the most establishments (206) andemployees (6,048).
In terms of percentage of overall manufacturingemployees, the influence of the hardwoodsindustry is felt most in Sullivan County, whereover 70 percent of its manufacturing jobs comefrom the forest products industry. It is one of fourcounties with more than half of its manufacturingemployment contributed from the forest productindustry in 2001. The others are Clarion, Perryand Union. In an additional thirteen counties –Adams, Blair, Bradford, Clearfield, Clinton, Forest,Juniata, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Snyder,Susquehanna, and Wayne - the forest products
industry accounts for between 25 percent and50 percent of the total manufacturingemployment for the county.
The economic impact of the industry goesbeyond employment. As a driving force inthe state’s economy, the forest productsindustry also provides billions of dollars insecondary impacts through the purchasing ofother equipment and material, taxes paidand employee income. The forest productsindustry pays forest landowners hundreds ofmillions of dollars annually in the purchaseof timber. Government agencies andtaxpayers also receive tens of millions ofdollars annually from the sale of governmentowned timber.
Pennsylvania’sHardwoodsIndustry
• lumber • residential, office and institutional furniture • kitchen cabinets • paper and consumer
paper products• veneer• furniture parts and other
wood components• flooring• moldings and millwork• doors and windows• pallets and boxes • railroad, mine and landscape ties • housing timbers• engineered wood products, such as
particleboard and medium densityfiberboard
• household furnishing • tool handles• sports equipment• musical instruments• firewood and wood
fuel pellets • playground surfaces• landscape mulch
PENNSYLVANIA’S FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY2002
NAICS Sector Establishments Employees
113 Forestry/Logging 324 979
321 Wood Product Manufacturing 1,152 29,080
322 Paper Manufacturing 377 30,987
337 Furniture & Related Products 974 25,690
TOTAL 2,827 86,736
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor
SELF-EMPLOYED AND OTHER NON-EMPLOYER BUSINESSESTABLISHMENTS* IN PENNSYLVANIA
2001NAICS Sector Establishments
113 Forestry/Logging 2,970
321 Wood Product Manufacturing 27,912
322 Paper Manufacturing 1,533
337 Furniture & Related Products 15,983
TOTAL 48,398
*Defined as business without paid employees subject tofederal income tax. Most non-employers are self-employed individuals operating unincorporated businesses
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, EPDC, Nonemployer Statistics
Source: PA Department of Labor & U.S. Census Bureau
FOREST PRODUCT EMPLOYEES BY COUNTY 2002
*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports
76
The vast, high quality forest resource inPennsylvania supports a diverse and dynamicforest products industry that is a driving forcein the economy of the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania produces $5.5 billion in forestproducts annually.
The state’s forest products industry includesforesters and loggers, sawmills, woodconcentration and distribution facilities veneerproducers, paper companies, pallet companies,value-added manufacturers.
Pennsylvania is recognized as the nation’sleader in the production of hardwood lumber,accounting for about ten percent of the totalamount of the total annual U.S. output.Pennsylvania is also a leading manufacturer ofmany value-added wood products, includingcabinets and furniture, flooring, interiormillwork products and pallets.
Pennsylvania companies manufacture anddistribute a variety of products including,
In 2002, there were 3,047 forest productestablishments in Pennsylvania, employing 86,736individuals. This accounts for over eleven percentof the state’s manufacturing workforce.
Additionally, Pennsylvania is home to over48,000 self-employed individuals and othernon-employer business involved in theproduction of forest products.
Combined, approximately 135,000 individualsderive income from working in the forestproducts industry.
The forest products industry has a presence inevery county of the Commonwealth. LancasterCounty has the most establishments (206) andemployees (6,048).
In terms of percentage of overall manufacturingemployees, the influence of the hardwoodsindustry is felt most in Sullivan County, whereover 70 percent of its manufacturing jobs comefrom the forest products industry. It is one of fourcounties with more than half of its manufacturingemployment contributed from the forest productindustry in 2001. The others are Clarion, Perryand Union. In an additional thirteen counties –Adams, Blair, Bradford, Clearfield, Clinton, Forest,Juniata, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Snyder,Susquehanna, and Wayne - the forest products
industry accounts for between 25 percent and50 percent of the total manufacturingemployment for the county.
The economic impact of the industry goesbeyond employment. As a driving force inthe state’s economy, the forest productsindustry also provides billions of dollars insecondary impacts through the purchasing ofother equipment and material, taxes paidand employee income. The forest productsindustry pays forest landowners hundreds ofmillions of dollars annually in the purchaseof timber. Government agencies andtaxpayers also receive tens of millions ofdollars annually from the sale of governmentowned timber.
Pennsylvania’sHardwoodsIndustry
• lumber • residential, office and institutional furniture • kitchen cabinets • paper and consumer
paper products• veneer• furniture parts and other
wood components• flooring• moldings and millwork• doors and windows• pallets and boxes • railroad, mine and landscape ties • housing timbers• engineered wood products, such as
particleboard and medium densityfiberboard
• household furnishing • tool handles• sports equipment• musical instruments• firewood and wood
fuel pellets • playground surfaces• landscape mulch
PENNSYLVANIA’S FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY2002
NAICS Sector Establishments Employees
113 Forestry/Logging 324 979
321 Wood Product Manufacturing 1,152 29,080
322 Paper Manufacturing 377 30,987
337 Furniture & Related Products 974 25,690
TOTAL 2,827 86,736
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor
SELF-EMPLOYED AND OTHER NON-EMPLOYER BUSINESSESTABLISHMENTS* IN PENNSYLVANIA
2001NAICS Sector Establishments
113 Forestry/Logging 2,970
321 Wood Product Manufacturing 27,912
322 Paper Manufacturing 1,533
337 Furniture & Related Products 15,983
TOTAL 48,398
* Defined as business without paid employees subject tofederal income tax. Most non-employers are self-employed individuals operating unincorporated businesses
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, EPDC, Nonemployer Statistics
Source: PA Department of Labor & U.S. Census Bureau
FOREST PRODUCT EMPLOYEES BY COUNTY 2002
*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Industrial Reports
8
Pennsylvania provides an excellentopportunity for a hardwood manufacturerto locate or expand a business.
Pennsylvania has one of the nation’slargest concentrations of high qualityhardwood forest resources within itsborders, which can be supplemented withadditional timber resources fromneighboring states. With a sizable forestproduct industry already in place, value-added processors of every size will find avariety of lumber, veneer and woodcomponent suppliers are available to meettheir material needs.
Pennsylvania’s location and the state’sextensive network of roads and rail ensurethat most major markets in the easternUnited States and Canada are within easyreach. Close proximity to major easternseaports provides easy access to overseasmarkets.
Pennsylvania has a world-class workforce,including over 100,000 Pennsylvaniansexperienced and skilled in various aspectsof forest product manufacturing.
Penn State University’s prestigious Schoolof Forest Resources is a valuable resourcefor skilled employees, technical assistanceprograms and cutting edge research onresource and product development.
Pennsylvania is taking unprecedented stepsto ensure the proper climate for business tolocate and grow in the state. Pennsylvaniahas recently invested $2 billion, as part of acomprehensive economic stimulus packagethat will help manufacturers in makingtechnology, environmental and energyinvestments needed to enhance productivityand competitiveness.
Pennsylvania has a comprehensive set ofbusiness assistance tools to assist hardwoodmanufacturers with their needs. State andlocal economic development agencies areready to help manufacturers with thefollowing services:
• Identification of appropriate businesslocation options - including certified“ready to build” sites and KeystoneOpportunity Zones, where businesses payvirtually no taxes for up to 10 years
• Coordination of the proper financial tools tomeet the needs of manufacturers of all sizes
• Opportunities and assistance to developdomestic and export markets
• Access to technical assistance targetingthe wood industry
• Help with regulatory compliance,pollution reduction and energy efficientpractices
• Identification of suppliers of lumber andother components needed to supportvalue-added wood processor.
• Workforce development and customizedjob training.
Business Opportunitiesin Penn’s Woods
For more information, contact:Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development CouncilPennsylvania Department of Agriculture2301 North Cameron Street, Room 308Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
Telephone: (717) 772-3715Fax: (717) 705-0663
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania even has its own agency dedicated tosupporting the expansion and development of theforest product industry. The PennsylvaniaHardwood Development Council is an office withinthe Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, whichcoordinates its efforts among key state agencies,local economic development providers, educationaland service providers and industry trade groups.
The objectives of the Hardwoods DevelopmentCouncil include
• Promoting timber access on both public andprivate lands
• Developing domestic and international markets forPennsylvania’s value-added wood products
• Supporting the development and expansion ofvalue-added wood manufacturing
• Promoting public knowledge and understanding ofthe importance of the state’s forest products industryand the use of wood products in our daily lives.
The Hardwoods Development Council serves the forestproducts industry through marketing efforts, supportfor one-on-one wood products technical assistance,sponsorship of relevant resource and productdevelopment research, and the promotion of publicand private business assistance resource. It alsosupports various public education initiatives, includingthe Pennsylvania Wood Mobile, a traveling exhibit andeducation program that teaches students and thegeneral public about the state’s forest resource andPennsylvania’s forest products industry.
8
Pennsylvania provides an excellentopportunity for a hardwood manufacturerto locate or expand a business.
Pennsylvania has one of the nation’slargest concentrations of high qualityhardwood forest resources within itsborders, which can be supplemented withadditional timber resources fromneighboring states. With a sizable forestproduct industry already in place, value-added processors of every size will find avariety of lumber, veneer and woodcomponent suppliers are available to meettheir material needs.
Pennsylvania’s location and the state’sextensive network of roads and rail ensurethat most major markets in the easternUnited States and Canada are within easyreach. Close proximity to major easternseaports provides easy access to overseasmarkets.
Pennsylvania has a world-class workforce,including over 100,000 Pennsylvaniansexperienced and skilled in various aspectsof forest product manufacturing.
Penn State University’s prestigious Schoolof Forest Resources is a valuable resourcefor skilled employees, technical assistanceprograms and cutting edge research onresource and product development.
Pennsylvania is taking unprecedented stepsto ensure the proper climate for business tolocate and grow in the state. Pennsylvaniahas recently invested $2 billion, as part of acomprehensive economic stimulus packagethat will help manufacturers in makingtechnology, environmental and energyinvestments needed to enhance productivityand competitiveness.
Pennsylvania has a comprehensive set ofbusiness assistance tools to assist hardwoodmanufacturers with their needs. State andlocal economic development agencies areready to help manufacturers with thefollowing services:
• Identification of appropriate businesslocation options - including certified“ready to build” sites and KeystoneOpportunity Zones, where businesses payvirtually no taxes for up to 10 years
• Coordination of the proper financial tools tomeet the needs of manufacturers of all sizes
• Opportunities and assistance to developdomestic and export markets
• Access to technical assistance targetingthe wood industry
• Help with regulatory compliance,pollution reduction and energy efficientpractices
• Identification of suppliers of lumber andother components needed to supportvalue-added wood processor.
• Workforce development and customizedjob training.
Business Opportunitiesin Penn’s Woods
For more information, contact:Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development CouncilPennsylvania Department of Agriculture2301 North Cameron Street, Room 308Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
Telephone: (717) 772-3715Fax: (717) 705-0663
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania even has its own agency dedicated tosupporting the expansion and development of theforest product industry. The PennsylvaniaHardwood Development Council is an office withinthe Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, whichcoordinates its efforts among key state agencies,local economic development providers, educationaland service providers and industry trade groups.
The objectives of the Hardwoods DevelopmentCouncil include
• Promoting timber access on both public andprivate lands
• Developing domestic and international markets forPennsylvania’s value-added wood products
• Supporting the development and expansion ofvalue-added wood manufacturing
• Promoting public knowledge and understanding ofthe importance of the state’s forest products industryand the use of wood products in our daily lives.
The Hardwoods Development Council serves the forestproducts industry through marketing efforts, supportfor one-on-one wood products technical assistance,sponsorship of relevant resource and productdevelopment research, and the promotion of publicand private business assistance resource. It alsosupports various public education initiatives, includingthe Pennsylvania Wood Mobile, a traveling exhibit andeducation program that teaches students and thegeneral public about the state’s forest resource andPennsylvania’s forest products industry.
Penn’s Woods: The Forest Resource andForest Products Industry of Pennsylvania
Produced by:
Pennsylvania Forest Products Association545 West Chocolate AvenueHershey, PA 17033Telephone: (717) 312-1244Fax: (717) 312-1335
with a grant provided by:
Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development CouncilPennsylvania Department of Agriculture2301 North Cameron Street, Room 308Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408Telephone: (717) 772-3715Fax: (717) 705-0663