The Governor’s 2015 Forest Products Summit, held Wednesday in East Lansing, Michigan, brought together 150 representatives from industry, government, the financial sector and academia to continue actions started at the Governor's 2013 Forest Products Summit to encourage growth of wood-using industries in the state.
Michigan’s forest products industry contributes $17.8 billion per year to Michigan’s economy and supports 87,000 jobs.
“In 2013, Gov. Snyder helped to initiate action to expand Michigan’s vital forest products industry,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “We took what we learned at that first summit and have used that positive momentum to move us even closer to our goals.
“Because of the professional management of our state’s forest resources, we’re able to sustainably meet the demands of this growing industry while, at the same time, maintaining Michigan’s outstanding recreation opportunities.”
Participants at the event heard a report on progress made since the 2013 summit, and discussed ways to continue progress toward the goals of:
- Increasing the economic contribution of the forest products industry to $20 billion within five years.
- Increasing the export of value-added forest products by 50 percent.
- Increasing forest products industry jobs by 10 percent.
- Encouraging regionally based industry development.
More information regarding the 2015 Forest Products Summit can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-30301_31023_71389---,00.html