|
|
Forest Service State
and Private |
Alaska Region |
Alaska Department of Natural Resource Division of Forestry |
|
|
Economic Action Program |
2001 |
|
Introduction |
The Alaska Economic Action Program consists of several focus areas: Economic Recovery, Rural Development Grants, Forest Products Conservation and Recycling, and Market Development and Expansion Programs. The Economic Recovery program provides technical and financial assistance to communities located near National Forests and that are dependent on natural resources. It helps communities that are economically distressed due to public land decisions or policy changes. This unique program serves as a catalyst to help communities develop broad-based, energized local action teams. The Forest Service is a member of the team to develop, and implement a local action plan. The Rural Development program is a broad-based program that addresses long-term health and sustainability of rural areas. It targets areas that have experienced persistent poverty, focusing on improving the quality of life using natural resources. Communities can apply for grants that serve as matching funds for local projects to stimulate improvements in the long-term economic and social well being of the residents. In Alaska this is a partnership effort between the Forest Service,-State and Private Forestry, and the Alaska Department of Community & Regional Affairs (DCRA) to jointly deliver DCRA's Rural Development Assistance Mini-Grant program. Technology Transfer is provided through the Forest Products Conservation and Recycling Program. This program consists of the three areas of: Recycling; Value-added and Alternative Wood Products; and Conservation. The Recycling component is designed to target wood fiber waste and residues that are currently being landfilled or otherwise underutilized. Mill residue reduction through increased efficiency and opportunities for re-use of wood fiber based products are also key focus areas. The Value-added and Alternative Products component is designed to encourage and facilitate increased economic returns from forest assets by providing technical and marketing assistance to communities and businesses. The principle intention is to increase value-added forest product processing which would in turn create long-term sustainable jobs. The Conservation component currently is not being funded nationally. The Market Development and Expansion Program supports the premise that strong domestic and international markets for renewable and non-renewable forest resources provide a significant opportunity to strengthen local and regional economies. The Wood in Transportation (WIT) Component is the only nationally funded component of this program at this time. The WIT component is an outgrowth of the Timber Bridge Initiative to improve rural transportation networks and strengthen local rural economies. WIT has since expanded that concept to include wood transportation construction beyond just pedestrian and vehicular bridges to railings, sound barriers, docks, marine facilities etc. The goal is to demonstrate the commercial potential of using wood from undervalued tree species for transportation related construction in rural communities. The Economic Competitiveness Component of this program supports domestic market expansion for forest products through information assessment, identification of income producing opportunities, actions to achieve market acceptance, development of business plans and marketing strategies, applied research, and direct technical assistance. The International Markets Component of this program currently is not funded nationally. |
|
Goals |
|
|
Budgets |
**Title II Dollars Only |
|
Rural Community Assistance |
|||||
|
|
FY 1997 |
FY 1998 |
FY 1999 |
FY 2000 |
**FY 2001 |
|
Economic Recovery |
$430,740 |
$315,000 |
$118,000 |
$175,000 |
$152,000 |
|
Rural Development |
$175,000 |
$152,000 |
$150,000 |
$130,000 |
$134,000 |
|
Issues |
The amount of wood that is being harvested from National Forest System lands has decreased which is a concern for local timber dependent economies. In the south-central and the Copper Basin areas of Alaska, the spruce beetle is killing much of the spruce resource. Unfortunately, opportunities to sell dead spruce trees have been limited for the landowners who wish to salvage this beetle killed material. |
|
Program Highlights |
|
|
Steve Bush |
|
Vacant |
