Sierra Business Council, teaming up with Sierra Commons and the Sierra Small Business Development Center (SBDC), is set to host a complimentary two-day workshop focused on forest entrepreneurship on June 7-8 at the South Lake Tahoe Parks & Recreation Center. This engaging event aims to equip aspiring business owners with the essential knowledge and tools to thrive in the growing forest-based industry.
The Intro to Forest Entrepreneurship Bootcamp targets individuals interested in initiating or expanding ventures in areas such as forest thinning, defensible space, prescribed fire application, small mass timber product manufacturing, biofuels, and other forestry-related logistics.
Participants will benefit from insights shared by industry experts in various fields, including forestry, marketing, and finance. An opening social on the first night will provide an excellent networking opportunity for attendees to connect with fellow entrepreneurs who share similar goals.
Last year’s Forest Entrepreneur Training sessions had a marked impact on past participants. For example, Stephanie Williams, a graduate from last year’s program, has started implementing her training to advance a biomass-to-energy power plant project in Camptonville, Northern California, showcasing the tangible outcomes of the workshop.
Co-facilitated by Robert X Trent, founder of Sierra Commons, and Ruby Beauchamp, a Forestry Fellow at Sierra Nevada Alliance and a successful forest entrepreneur, the bootcamp is designed to promote sustainable business practices. Trent notes that this is a pivotal moment for forest entrepreneurship, highlighting the industry’s potential to enhance both economic and environmental resilience.
Beauchamp expresses enthusiasm about empowering entrepreneurs to seize business opportunities while contributing positively to their communities. She emphasizes the shift toward sustainable resource management, community preparedness for wildfire, and habitat restoration as vital components of this new era of land stewardship.
The workshop aims to provide participants with technical training, business development strategies, and guidance on transitioning to cooperative business models that emphasize economic justice. With a focus on long-term sustainability, this program will connect entrepreneurs to budding opportunities in wood product development and outdoor recreation that also offer benefits such as wildfire mitigation.
The workshop is funded through a Good Jobs Challenge EDA grant from the Foundation for California Community Colleges, with pre-registration required due to limited space. Interested individuals can learn more and secure their spot by visiting the registration link.
This initiative represents a significant commitment to fostering entrepreneurship that aligns with environmental stewardship, potentially leading to a thriving community that harmonizes business success with ecological responsibility.