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Alabama Industries Forest Products

Alabama has the third largest timberland base in the United States with nearly 23 million acres. The forest products industry is the state’s largest manufacturing industry, producing an estimated $4 billion worth of products (GDP) with plenty of opportunity to grow.

As the 3rd largest timberland base in the U.S., our state is in the top ten producers of pulp, paper, lumber, and wood panel production.

Forestry and Logging

Establishments: 621
Employment: 4,030

Wood Product Manufacturing

Establishments: 403
Employment: 18,941

Paper Manufacturing

Establishments: 98
Employment: 11,077

Forest Products Industries with a Presence in Alabama

Growing and nurturing the forest-based economy through education and workforce training

Alabama is committed to providing a high standard of education and training in the forest products industry.

Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering at Auburn University

This program provides undergraduate, graduate and continuing education in science and engineering to meet the needs of the pulp and paper industry and allied biomass-based industries.

Alabama A&M University

Alabama A&M University’s forestry program is nationally accredited and a Center of Excellence with the USDA Forest Service.

Auburn University School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences

The school of Forestry & Wildlife Siences is the flagship program for forestry, wildlife, and natural resources in Alabama. It offers world-class faculty, state-of-the-art labs, expansive field sites, and technological resources to develop students into tomorrow’s leaders.

Other Colleges

In total, there are 28 four-year colleges and universities and 24 two-year community and technical colleges strategically located throughout the state.

AIDT

Alabama’s #1 incentive, provides a total workforce delivery system at no cost to qualified employers.

The Forest Products Development Center (part of AIDT) facilitates forest-based economic development within Alabama by providing a wide range of technical information and analytical support to industry.

Forest Products Industry News

Publication gives Alabama high marks for business climate, workforce training

Jul 29, 2020
In the 16th installment of its Annual State and Metro Rankings Report, Business Facilities rated Birmingham as the No. 1 mid-size metro area for its business climate, while Huntsville was No. 1 among small-size metros. Overall, Alabama ranked No. 4 for business climate. Alabama’s workforce development and talent attraction programs ranked No. 2 among the…

EDPA pivots with Reignite Alabama to target Covid-19 challenges

Jun 11, 2020
The EDPA will make a big pivot with its next cycle in response to Covid-19. The EDPA will use its Launchpad platform for a response competition – Reignite Alabama – to help deal with the economic impact of Covid-19. You can find details here. Reignite Alabama is defining four “wicked challenges” for the next applications.…

Gov. Kay Ivey Announces Help for Small Businesses Affected by Coronavirus

Mar 23, 2020
Gov. Kay Ivey has announced that the state’s small businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are now eligible for help from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. For more on the story visit: alabamnews.net  

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