The Peru Gazette

Senator Betty Little today said the state budget will include funding to establish a logger training program at Paul Smith’s College. Little proposed the new program in response to concerns from paper and pulp mills and other wood product manufacturers about a logger labor shortage in New York.

“Sustainable forestry supports jobs, contributes millions of dollars in activity to our Adirondack economy and benefits the environment,” said Little. “A lack of qualified loggers is slowing the supply chain. As more biomass comes on line, that pressure will only increase. It’s very important we catch up with that curve.”

The 2015-16 state budget includes $300,000 to help establish the North American Logger Training School at Paul Smith’s College. The public-private educational partnership will offer onsite and experiential learning to certify loggers in heavy equipment harvesting, chainsaw safety, and forestry and business management practices. The logger certification will be jointly sponsored by the college and the Empire State Forest Products Association.

Little said Paul Smith’s is uniquely positioned to make the school a success. It has significant experience in logging education, over 14,000 acres of forest lands, of which 10,600 are Rainforest Alliance Certified, a certification that no other college in North America has earned.

“We have a long tradition of natural resource management and ecology education,” said Cathy S. Dove, president of Paul Smith’s College. “Housing the North American Logger Training School here is a perfect fit for us. We are grateful for Senator Little’s support in making the school a reality, and we look forward to helping the forest products industry grow and to
creating even more good jobs throughout the state.”

“Training the workforce is a top priority” states Eric Carlson President & CEO of the Empire State Forest Products Association. “Logging provides good jobs locally and is crucial to managing healthy forests. We are excited about the partnership through New York Logger Training and Paul Smith’s College. New technology requires we develop a skilled workforce
for today and tomorrow’s needs.”

“Skilled loggers have been the backbone of the Adirondack economy for more than a century, and the creation of this new school will help ensure the continuation of that proud tradition for generations to come,” said Michael McLarty, vice president, forestry and wood procurement, for Finch Paper. “We applaud Sen. Little and Paul Smith’s for working so hard to make the school a reality. Finch Paper and our professional forestry team look forward to working with the school’s graduates to provide a sustainable supply of wood for our paper and the many other wood products we all use every day.”

Chris Mallon, International Paper’s Ticonderoga Mill Manager commented, “We sincerely appreciate Senator Little’s leadership in taking this first important step to ensure a vital and growing wood harvesting community to meet the ever-growing demand for wood fiber in the region. Senator Little’s vision of thriving and sustainably managed New York forests and a robust supply chain holds the key to our future.”

Tom Beck, Chief Commercial Officer of ReEnergy Holdings, said: “Northern New York is blessed with abundant natural resources, and the forest products industry is a key economic driver for the North Country region. We thank Senator Little for leading this important effort, and we look forward to working with Senator Little, Paul Smith’s College, the Empire State Forest Products Association and other stakeholders to ensure that the forest products sector has the workforce and infrastructure it needs to ensure a sustainable future for the industry.”