nevada city – Entrepreneurs who live, work and play in the Sierra Nevada can now take advantage of new opportunities to advance their forestry careers and build resilient communities thanks to a new training course starting this spring. I did.
The Sierra Business Council is partnering with Sierra Commons to launch a free, in-person education program this April to create forest-based jobs and wood products businesses.
This course covers business in areas such as forest thinning and management, defensible spaces, prescribed fire use, small volume wood product manufacturing, small diameter wood utilization, biofuels, bioenergy, home hardening, and plant restoration. It is specifically designed for those who are starting or are about to start. , other non-timer-related businesses, and/or forestry logistics.
The Forestry Entrepreneurship Program is a tuition-free, five-week course taught by experts in regional forest business opportunities, marketing and finance businesses, start-up businesses, and more. Participants will explore how preparing Sierra communities for forest resilience can launch exciting new career paths and emerging industries. The first cohort begins April 30th at his Sierra Commons headquarters in Nevada City.
“There are significant business opportunities in our forest communities, and the nexus of entrepreneurship, job creation, and existing market needs such as forest thinning, defensible space, and small-diameter timber manufacturing provides much-needed opportunities. This will provide wildfire mitigation and economic development benefits,” said Christine York, Vice Chair of the Sierra Business Council.
Population growth, climate change, and the threat of catastrophic wildfires are challenging economies across the Sierra Nevada and in-demand industries such as sustainable construction, land management, natural resources, outdoor recreation, and arts and culture. creating opportunities for
Embracing this changing landscape, mountain communities are discovering new possibilities while becoming better prepared to face the future. This course series is designed to provide participants with the tools and know-how needed to create a sustainable lifestyle.
This workshop series covers all aspects of starting or expanding a business and is led by Robert Trent, founder of Sierra Commons, a nonprofit business incubator in Nevada City. Trent is an experienced consultant who has taught hundreds of entrepreneurs over the years.
“There are a daunting number of opportunities to start and grow in-demand businesses across the Sierra. This course is perfect for you.
It’s about entrepreneurship, but it’s also deeply rooted in the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Robert Trent, executive director of Sierra Commons.
Students learn the fundamental fundamentals of good business, from finance, pricing, and cash flow to the complex world of research, marketing, sales, and government contracts and permits. In addition to weekly classes, students expand their access to knowledge and resources with weekly accountability groups and her one-on-one advising.
“Sierra Commons and the Sierra Business Council have a very good understanding of what it takes to start and grow a successful business. It’s not as simple as just learning how to run a business. It’s also about weaving a positive mindset and character setting into everything a business owner does,” Trent said.
Each participant will receive free personalized technical support through the SBDC program. The schedule is as follows.
April 30th: Introduction to Forest Entrepreneurship
May 7th: Research and Planning
May 14: Financing, Pricing, and Cash Flow
May 21st: Marketing, Sales, and Growth Strategies
May 28th: Government awards contract and creates excellent proposal.
The curriculum is designed to provide:
- Technical assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship development focused on a wide range of forest and timber-related businesses
- Training and guidance to transform your business from sole proprietorship to cooperative business to support economic justice at the business owner level.
- Opportunity to introduce new business opportunities with wildfire reduction and economic development co-benefits, particularly in the context of wood product development and outdoor recreation in rural forest communities.
- Linking existing markets with identified needs, such as forest thinning and management, prescribed fire application, small volume wood product production, small diameter wood utilization, biofuel production, logistics and support.
Funding for this program was provided by a Good Jobs Challenge EDA-funded grant through the California Community College Foundation to implement a forestry and fire mitigation training program in the Sierra Nevada region of northeastern California.
For more information about this program, please contact us below.
Robert Trent, Sierra Commons
info@sierracommons.org
Advance registration is required. For more information, visit sierrabusiness.org/forestryprogram.
