There is a lot of economic and business opportunity in the forest products industry. And if you’re in Arizona, or somewhere close by, you have the chance to learn more about what those are at the Forest Products Business Opportunities Workshop.

A one-day event, the workshop is designed to stimulate and inform local and potential small businesses of opportunities utilizing woody biomass, firewood, and timber resources from local forest restoration projects.

The workshop is free and will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Graham County Fairgrounds (Common Sense Building) in Safford, AZ.

Above: sustainably harvested wood.

Check in and networking will begin at 8:30 AM and the seminar filled workshop will run until 3:00 PM. Lunch will be served.

 A ShadeFund team member will be at the event and will be one of the speakers on the ‘Resources for Small Businesses Panel.’

Presentations will orient the local business community with the following information:
- Opportunities arising from several forest restoration projects in this area
- The types and quantities of forest products that will be available
- Examples of businesses in other regions utilizing these types of materials
- Potential products and markets
- Economic considerations
- Technical challenges
- Sources of technical assistance
- Contacts and funding opportunities

Exhibitors will include:
- Small businesses and contractors from the Southwest including, members from the Northern Arizona Wood Products Association and Gila WoodNet businesses.
- Portable sawmills
- Various products and crafts
- Firewood and biomass products
- Local lending institutions
- USDA Rural Development
- EAC Small Business Development Center

For more information, contact:

Craig Wilcox, USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest at (928) 348-1961 or email: cpwilcox@fs.fed.us

SBDC at (928) 428-8590 or email: sbdc@eac.edu