U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) said Pennsylvania will receive more than $1.5 million in funding for forestry businesses.
Thompson said the grants will support forestry management, increased production capabilities, improvements to processing equipment and technologies and support the state’s rural economy.
“Pennsylvania has one of the largest hardwood timber industries in the nation, and our forest products generate tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars across the state annually,” Thompson said. “I am proud to secure this funding to ensure these local businesses have the tools they need to help expand and strengthen our timber markets.”
The funding is part of the Wood Innovation Grant Program from the U.S. Forestry Service, and is awarded to projects that support active management of national forests and grasslands, promote wood and energy infrastructure by increasing manufacturing capacity and operational efficiencies, and support rural economic prosperity and jobs.
Among the recipients of the grants were Brownlee Lumber, Inc., of Brookville, to fund upgrades to sawmill production capabilities and improve operational efficiency as well as active forest management of the Allegheny National Forest; Emporium Hardwoods Operating Company, LLC of Emporium, for the installation of sawmill processing technologies to increase production capacity and efficiencies and the Forcey Lumber Company, Inc., of Woodland, for upgrading veneer processing capabilities to retain rural jobs and produce more than 3 million board feet annually.
“The greatest threat to forest landowners and those who use forests is the lack of critical markets in today’s timber and wood products industries,” U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said. “There are significant gaps where low-value wood, small diameter trees and restoration byproducts lack viable buyers. To close these gaps, we are investing in companies and organizations that are developing technologies, products, business models and training to expand and strengthen markets directly connected to forest restoration.”