This past week, I introduced the bipartisan Jobs in the Woods Act with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). The legislation will connect young people with rewarding careers and training in forestry. The bill would create a grant program for nonprofit organizations, state governments, and colleges to utilize for workforce training in forestry-related fields – helping prepare students for jobs in the U.S. Forest Service and in the timber industry.
The Jobs in the Woods Act would provide workforce training opportunities to inspire the next generation of forestry workers. With most of the forest manufacturing industry located in rural areas, this bill would give those individuals the opportunity to learn skills that can serve them and their communities.
The Jobs in the Woods Act would:
- Create education programming for states, nonprofits, and colleges focused on workforce development in forestry
- Create the programs in rural and low-income areas to spur economic development, bringing thousands of dollars of investments into rural communities
- Create a pool of talented, trained, and qualified applicants to fill job openings in forestry-related industries
- Partner with programs that have proven to help students find forestry industry jobs and programs that engage with their local communities
North Carolina’s forestry industry is a driving force for our rural economy. The Jobs in the Woods Act supports the hardworking men and women who keep our forests healthy and our rural economies strong. This bill invests in the next generation of skilled workers, revitalizing our communities, and ensuring America’s forestry industry remains competitive for decades to come.
In North Carolina, forestry is the top manufacturing sector and second largest industry in the state, contributing nearly $40.5 billion to the state's economy and providing around 144,000 jobs. North Carolina ranks fourth in terms of total forested acreage, covering more than 18.7 million acres, approximately 61% of the state's total land area.
