FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2014) – Governor Steve Beshear has proclaimed Oct. 19- 25 as Forest Products Week in Kentucky. “Kentucky’s forests are a significant renewable natural resource, with forest products industries generating a total economic impact of $12.8 billion to the state’s economy and employing more than 59,000 people,” said Gov. Beshear. “I’m pleased to recognize the important contributions of this industry to the Commonwealth.” Kentucky’s forests and diverse forest products manufactured by local forest industries have long provided an economic livelihood and continue to remain vitally important today. Forest products exported in 2013 were valued at $102.9 million, ranking them in the top 10 of Kentucky agricultural exports. Kentucky is one of the leading producers of hardwood forest products in the south and exports wood products across the nation and the world. This economic impact was generated from forests located in all 120 counties of the Commonwealth, providing resources harvested by more than 1,800 logging firms and processed at 703 facilities located in 109 counties. These industries include sawmills, pulp and paper mills and a wide variety of secondary producers such as cabinet, barrel and flooring manufacturers. Leah MacSwords, director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry, added, “Forestland in Kentucky covers nearly half of the state. Forest landowners and the Commonwealth receive a tremendous economic benefit from sales of wood products.”
Blog
