Visit Our Resource Center

The Community Forestry Business Alliance

The CFBA is a group of community forestry advocates from across the US who have been involved, individually, in promoting markets for wood products businesses that are locally-based, environmentally and socially-driven, and committed to community-based stewardship.  The Alliance allows us to merge our collective resources and, as a group, better coordinate efforts, pool resources and knowledge, and stimulate market awareness and production capacity.

Our Intended Impact

• Forest stewardship and sustainable community economic development by linking responsible forestry sector to market opportunities
• Effective and efficient community forestry groups and businesses by networking efforts at the local, regional and national levels

The Alliance Provides

• Access to markets aligned with our values, capacity and products Learning and business relationships with peers across the country Knowledge of target market preferences and expectations Integration into distribution and sales systems Access to capital for business creation and expansion Consumer awareness of local products having social and environmental story
• Stronger voice in the policy arena

Our Strategy

1. Peer-to-peer networking to provide a forum for like-minded businesses to learn from each other, share experiences and expertise, and work together to better leverage market opportunitiesDelivery of capacity building tools and assistance that will increase knowledge and capacity of community forestry wood products businesses
2. Marketing and communications to enhance market access opportunities for community forestry wood products businesses by building widespread recognition of their products and facilitating business relationships and sales opportunities between producers and target markets.

Regional Coordinators

Acting National Coordinator – Sustainable Northwest, Ryan Temple
Southeast – Southern Forest Network, Alyx Perry
Midwest  - Rapid Improvement Associates, Warren Gaskill
Rocky Mountains – Montana Community Development Corporation, Craig Rawlings
Northwest – Mount Adams Resource Stewards, Jay McLaughlin
Northeast – Open
 

Planned Activities

Spring 2008

• Staffing completed and functional structure agreed upon Develop financial resources matrix including institution list and requirement checklist Reach out to retailers, contractors and architects within target markets. Submit letter to the USFS in support of FSC certification of National Forests Use meeting in Wisconsin April 25-26 to integrate CFBA resource needs with timber available from members of the FSC Family Forest Alliance
• This first one may be a small meeting to help plan and coordinate subsequent forums and build cooperation between the CFBA and the FFA

Summer 2008

• Identify and document strategic market opportunities that members of the CFBA might serve Hold Sustainable Finance Webinar exploring range of resources from foundations to community development corporations to banks  
• Document and broadcast the results of this workshop  
• Specific sources should be included in regional forums
• Host a Regional Resource Forum in the PNW to integrate CFBA resource needs with locally/regionally available certified timber/wood products (for secondary manufacturers)
• Funded by additional dollars generated than current in-hand funding

Fall 2008

• Host Web Marketing Seminar in New England.  Document and broadcast this workshop.  Use planning of this event as an opportunity to recruit/introduce NE coordinator.  Also use to recruit business members. Detail inventory of CFBA member products and make available through a nationally coordinated distribution and/or web listing system
• Dedicate time and energy into subsequent funding for CFBA

Winter 2008

• Develop 3 year strategy and one year work plan based on experiences to date and coordination with other national community forestry efforts Develop, host discussion session and disseminate FSC Group Chain of Custody Certification manual enabling micro-enterprises to access potential advantages of certified forest product markets
• In conjunction with above, host a Regional Resource Forum in the SE to integrate CFBA resource needs with locally/regionally available certified timber/wood products (for secondary manufacturers)  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is this effort different from other efforts? The consortium compliments other market-oriented sustainable forestry campaigns by engendering peer relationships to improve business capacity and highlighting the local and social aspects community forestry. Q: What will the consortium actually do? Our work plan will be developed by consortium members and will constantly adapt to apply our collective skill set to those needs regarded as most critical to the success of our business endeavors. Current activities which we will emphasize include developing communication channels such as a website and list-serve; hosting events to build relationships and enhance specific skill sets; nurture business relationships that have both technical assistance and trade components; link members to service providers and complementary efforts; create vertical market linkages for product sales, collectively tell the story that differentiates our businesses. Q: Who are the members? Consortium members are primarily wood products businesses with a long-term commitment to the health of their community and their forest. Members will also include regional non-profit groups supporting and representing these businesses, service providers building business capacity, and market connections that perceive a mutual benefit to developing strong vendor relationships with “green” sources. Q: How will it sustain itself?The consortium will likely rely on a diversity of measures of financial support including member dues, service fees, sales revenues, and philanthropy. Q: Will you be selling product?

Ultimately, the Consortium will likely be a medium for selling product. To get there we first need to align production and service capacity with strategic market opportunities and decide on the most equitable means for serving this function. In the short term, the Consortium will be a venue for promotion, leads, and referrals related to member product lines. These activities will inform our longer term sales strategies.

Thank you for your interest and work on behalf of our woodlands and the generations to come. Please call (503) 221-6911 x112 or e-mail if you have questions.

Ryan Temple, Alliance Director

02/13/2008