Nearly 60 alumni from Leadership Minnesota toured the Prairie Island nuclear power plant in Red Wing. The program, exclusive to the Minnesota Chamber, provides an inside look at the state's changing economy and the issues that will shape its future. Andrea Walsh (from left), chair-elect of the Minnesota Chamber Board, President David Olson and Board Chair Dave McMillan attended the Governors’ Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The event coincided with the release of the report, “Enterprising States,” which highlights successful state strategies for job creation and economic growth. Businesses leaders provide feedback on Minnesota Chamber legislative initiatives during a regional policy session in Bloomington. Gubernatorial candidates addressed priorities of the statewide business community at an August 17 debate at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa: (from left), Republican Tom Emmer, DFLer Mark Dayton, Independence Party candidate Tom Horner. Andrea Walsh (from left), chair-elect of the Minnesota Chamber Board, President David Olson and Board Chair Dave McMillan attend the Governors’ Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The winning foursome from the 2010 golf tournament held in Duluth at Northland Country Club. From left to right: Rebecca Klett, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Tom Reinhart, Kwik Trip, Inc., Steve Lasky, Dairy Queen and Nate Mussell, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. Andrea Walsh (from left), chair-elect of the Minnesota Chamber Board, President David Olson and Board Chair Dave McMillan attended the Governors’ Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The event coincided with the release of the report, “Enterprising States,” which highlights successful state strategies for job creation and economic growth. Businesses leaders provide feedback on Minnesota Chamber legislative initiatives during a regional policy session in Bloomington. Gubernatorial candidates addressed priorities of the statewide business community at an August 17 debate at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa: (from left), Republican Tom Emmer, DFLer Mark Dayton, Independence Party candidate Tom Horner. Andrea Walsh (from left), chair-elect of the Minnesota Chamber Board, President David Olson and Board Chair Dave McMillan attend the Governors’ Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The winning foursome from the 2010 golf tournament held in Duluth at Northland Country Club. From left to right: Rebecca Klett, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Tom Reinhart, Kwik Trip, Inc., Steve Lasky, Dairy Queen and Nate Mussell, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. Nearly 60 alumni from Leadership Minnesota toured the Prairie Island nuclear power plant in Red Wing. The program, exclusive to the Minnesota Chamber, provides an inside look at the state's changing economy and the issues that will shape its future.

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Forest Management

Issue

How should the Legislature support the sustainable management of Minnesota’s forest resources and the economic activity of the forest products sector?

Policy

Minnesota’s forests support the fourth largest manufacturing industry in the state, providing 36,000 jobs with a payroll in excess of $1.7 billion, and habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for our citizens and visitors. The Minnesota Chamber supports:

  • Sustainable forest management policies on county, state and federal lands that provide forest products and recreational opportunities to meet society’s needs.
  • Voluntary approaches to improve forest management (Forest Resources Council Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines adopted in 1999) and opposes regulating these practices by statute.
  • Existing tax policies that recognize and support the long-term nature of owning and managing private forest lands – industrial and nonindustrial – and promote retaining those lands as forests.
  • Adequate resources (timber sales revenue) for the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry to actively manage state-owned forest lands.
  • Adequate funding for the implementation of the Sustainable Forest Resources Act, including the policy, planning, coordination and monitoring programs of the Forest Resources Council.
  • Appropriate financial assistance for students seeking careers as natural resource and wood and paper products professionals, and appropriate funding for research at the University of Minnesota, College of Natural Resources on sustainable forest management, product/process development and utilization efforts and Extension programs.

Business Impact

The forest products sector, ranking as one of the top manufacturing industries in the state, is a vital component of Minnesota’s economy.  The industry consists of five pulp and paper mills, three recycled pulp and paper mills, three hardboard and specialty product mills, two oriented strand board mills, more than 500 sawmills and more than 800 secondary manufacturers and associated industries.  The forest products industry employs 36,000 people and has an annual payroll in excess of $1.7 billion.  The value of shipped products is more than $8.6 billion.  The industry is the fourth largest manufacturing industry in the state, generates 11 percent of the value of all manufacturing shipments in the state and has invested $4 billion in manufacturing facilities in recent years. More than 7.1 million forestland acres are independently certified to assure sustainable forest management.

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