Strategies

Recommendations: Leadership and a Plan

Global markets for new and existing forest products offer Maine an incredible opportunity. Maine has the forest resource and the economic assets, including a skilled workforce, industry infrastructure, and renowned research and development facilities, to be a global forest products leader. But to achieve the vision, we need to do more to aggressively market ourselves nationally and globally. We need to actively seek and attract capital investment. We need to accelerate innovation in forest products and applications in order to leverage our leadership position. And we need to work together, private and public sectors in partnership, with focus and persistence. 

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Goal 1 – GOAL 1: SUSTAIN AND GROW MAINE’S EXISTING AND EMERGING FOREST PRODUCTS ECONOMY, REACHING $12 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT BY 2025. 

Strategy – 1A: Strengthen and optimize existing wood products manufacturing in Maine. 

Strategy – 1B: Dedicate resources to a forest products industry attraction program to increase capital investment in the state in markets that are a good fit for Maine. 

Strategy – 1C: Accelerate innovation in new forest products and applications to strengthen Maine’s leadership position and diversify our forest products economy. 

Strategy – 1D: Improve the attractiveness of Maine for new capital investment in the forest products industry. 

Strategy – 1E: Maine’s forest products industry is interdependent. 

Strategy – 1F: Sawmill residuals and low-value wood can be used to generate heat and electricity for Maine homes, businesses, and institutions, with significant and ongoing positive economic impact in the state and across the forest industry supply chain. 

Strategy – 1G: Improve transportation and logistics infrastructure for moving Maine wood and value-added wood products to markets.

GOAL 2: MANAGE THE WOOD RESOURCE USING SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. 

Strategy – 2A: Use accurate and current data about Maine’s forest to inform investment and monitor sustainability. 

GOAL 3: PREPARE WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FOREST PRODUCTS ECONOMY.

Strategy – 3A: Attract young people into the industry. 

Strategy – 3B: Ensure that new, replacement and incumbent workers have the skills needed for existing jobs. 

Strategy – 3C: Prepare workforce for emerging products/technologies in the forest products industry. 

GOAL 4: INCREASE PROSPERITY IN MAINE FOREST ECONOMY COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN RURAL MAINE, INCLUDING THOSE AFFECTED BY MILL CLOSURES. 

Strategy – 4A: Strengthen Maine’s capacity for local, regional and state community and economic development. 

Strategy – 4B: Encourage community efforts to create the conditions that attract diverse investment, including efforts to redevelop mill sites, and improving broadband and other infrastructure. 

Strategy – 4C: Leverage community incentives to support these efforts. 

Strategy – 4D: Leverage federal resources to support these efforts. 

GOAL 5: ORGANIZE THE FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY WITH COMMITTED PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, TO IMPLEMENT THE VISION AND GOALS. 

Strategy – 5A: Develop and communicate an ambitious forest based economy strategy. 

Strategy – 5B: Continue to work together to ensure the recommendations are implemented and that stakeholders remain engaged, committed and supportive of each other.