Enclosure 4A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Utilization and Marketing Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Sustainable Northwest
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
503-221-6911
503-221-4495
info@sustainablenorthwest.org
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
620 SW Main Street, Suite 112, Portland, OR 97205
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Maia Enzer, Director, Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
503-221-6911 ext.111
503-221-4495
menzer@sustainablenorthwest.or
Project Information
Project Title:
Building marketing capacity, Supporting wildfire risk reduction treatments
Project Start:
Project End:
May 1, 2002
October 1, 2003
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$100,000.00
$125,000.00
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
This project’s goal is to strengthen and expand the marketing services and tools provided by
Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership (HFHC) to rural, forest-based communities
poised to implement the National Fire Plan. HFHC, a program of Sustainable Northwest, is a
marketing collaborative dedicated to stimulating opportunities for forest restoration and producing
and marketing the by-products of those activities. HFHC members convert these restoration ‘byproducts’ – small diameter suppressed trees and underutilized species– into quality wood products
thus maximizing the economic return to communities adjacent to the forest and facilitating further
restoration efforts. To reach this goal with our partners and members HFHC will:
1. Provide technical assistance– offer marketing, utilization, business and manufacturing workshops
and provide tradeshow exposure for rural wood products manufacturers
2. Create marketing materials and tools - such as a sample portfolio, product line displays,
tradeshow booth materials specific to HFHC members, a video/CD-Rom, and focus groups.
3. Conduct communications and education – develop and implement an advertising strategy; and
provide opportunities for communication between manufacturers and markets.
Project Location:
County:
Congressional District:
Pacific Northwest
multiple
multiple
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
HFHC membership has representation from OR, WA, No. CA and Idaho.
Enclosure 4B (Page 1 of 3) - Project Narrative Description
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than one page,
single space, 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 partners





project income
project time frames
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Our goal is to increase the existing capacity of forest-dependent communities to take advantage of
the opportunities provided by NFP to restore local forests, reduce fire hazards, expand business opportunities,
offer points of collaboration with local agencies and to realize social and economic benefits derived from
forest restoration projects.
Response:
We propose to do this by 1) providing direct technical assistance, 2) marketing and 3) communication and
education.
1) Technical Assistance - HFHC, in cooperation with its community-based partners, proposes to convene two
workshops on utilization in late Spring 2002 related to implementation of the NFP. Partners in providing
these workshops are the Watershed Research and Training Center (Hayfork, CA), the Secondary Wood
Products Manufacturing Consortium, Wallowa Resources (Enterprise, OR) and Jefferson Sustainable
Development Initiative (Ashland, OR). These workshops will provide the template for workshops to follow
in the coming year. HFHC businesses have requested workshops on flooring manufacturing, furniture factory
layout, business development and marketing. The workshops will be lead by industry experts, business
professionals, community leaders and HFHC staff. Workshops will be available to all HFHC businesses and
other nearby wood products businesses.
2) Marketing Materials / Tools - Marketing and sales support is critical to the success of HFHC member
businesses; therefore, we are committed to building awareness of the HFHC brand name and establishing
market channels that connect with the growing consumer preference for socially and environmentally
responsible wood products. By collectively marketing the HFHC story and creating urban access points for
rural businesses to sell their products, HFHC is opening the door to new market opportunities for its
members. Marketing materials will be developed including a sample portfolio of HFHC member products,
product displays for use in point of purchase and other public venues, a video and CD-ROM telling the
HFHC story, and expansion of partner materials in the HFHC tradeshow booth specific to our business
members. All of these materials will be used at an HFHC showcase to take place at the Environmental Home
Center in Seattle. This event will build on the positive experience of our recent “debut” in Portland.
3) Communications and Education - A key goal of the Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership is
to continually build the capacity of locally-based businesses to understand market preferences, business
practices and contracting opportunities. HFHC serves as a conduit relaying information from the marketplace
to the manufacturers. Conversely, we strive to educate the markets and consumers about product and public
relations opportunities of HFHC. HFHC will create an advertising campaign that promotes the broad HFHC
story as well as the stories of individual partners through printed publication advertising that is cost effective
and reaches our target audience.
HFHC's experience in marketing, wood products, contracting, and business development and our broad
membership base uniquely qualify us to coordinate efforts to fulfill the purpose of the NFP in the forests and
communities of the Pacific Northwest. Our desired outcomes and measures include: increased understanding
of the NFP and the opportunities it presents; increased marketing business and manufacturing capacity of
HFHC members; increased public awareness of the importance of fuels reduction and restoration forestry and
the value of its by-products; and increased awareness of the HFHC brand and partner product lines thereby,
increasing members economic benefit.
Enclosure 4B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Increasing Local Capacity (35 Points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially
year-round and seasonal jobs)?
B. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
C. Which, if any, private businesses will participate?
D. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or businesses?
Response: HFHC
is represented by 24 businesses providing nearly 200 jobs in the Pacific Northwest. The
Partnership builds on existing capacities to improve the competitiveness of these businesses thereby retaining
or expanding the jobs they provide. The workshops, marketing materials, and outreach are designed to
complement businesses existing skill sets by either developing new skills or providing a support
infrastructure for the skills not currently present in many rural communities. As a result of the work proposed
by HFHC, partner businesses will improve on or build new marketing and business skills, build relationships
with urban markets, increase regional awareness of their product lines, and develop the tools necessary to
reach regional and national audiences with the story of sustainable wood products that restore forests while
revitalizing communities.
Within the Northwest, the utilization workshops will be easily replicable. Networking is an explicit
component of the workshops and those attending will leave armed with the tools to share what they have
learned about business development and marketing with others in the wood products sector. The same
curricula can also be applied outside the immediate region.
2. Reducing fire risk. (30 points)
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas and communities.
Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the
safety of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative fuels treatment plan or community fire strategy (include
evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. Explain how the proposal (a) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (b) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuels conditions.
A.
B.
Response: The proposed
projects will reduce fire risk by developing markets for products made from small
diameter and under-utilized species. This will increase the economic incentives for restoration treatments.
Additionally, by building and supporting a skilled workforce both in the forest, and in the mill, the project
will perpetuate local communities' long-term ability to care for the land and reduce fire risk.
The projects will take place across the Northwest Region, with specific focus on Wallowa and Lake Counties
and the Kalamath Siskiyou region, OR, and Okanogan County, WA. Community collaborators, such as
Wallowa Resources, Partnership for a Sustainable Methow, and Jefferson State Development Initiaitive, have
worked with local Forest Service personnel to identfy forest stands most at risk. Although most of these
communities have the capacity to do the on-the-ground work, and many have manufacturing infrastructure to
utilize the material, the market systems necessary to support viable wood products business are often lacking.
HFHC proposes to focus on this “weak link” to round out rural communities capacity to reduce fire risk.
Enclosure 4B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested people and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and involved in
this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits of the project?
HFHC is a grass roots organization guided by its membership. The proposed outline of work
is derived from the Marketing Strategy, which was set by the marketing advisory group, supported by the full
membership and endorsed by the governance committee. The proposal put forth by HFHC is coordinated
with other forest restoration projects from the Pacific Northwest Region, such as those from the Okanogan
Community Development Council, Wallowa Resources, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council,
Ecosystem Workforce Project, the Watershed Research and Training Center, Jefferson Sustainable
Development Initiative, Partnership for a Sustainable Methow and Framing Our Community.
Response:
The workshops are designed to bring a variety of stakeholder groups together in order to catalyze
networking and collaboration around restoration and workforce development. Specifically, we are targeting:
community-based organizations; local and regional environmental groups; local and regional technical
assistance providers; community college representatives; local economic development specialist and service
providers; local government; contractors (mobile and local); Forest Service; Oregon Economic and
Community Development Department; and local Watershed Councils. Local partners provide considerable
in-kind support and actively raise funds from private sources to support our community development work.
4. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (20 Points)
A. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning among federal, state, tribal, local government and
community organizations in developing this proposal. List the cooperators.
B. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if
it already exists.
Response: The types
of activities made possible in the National Fire Plan have enormous potential to be the
foundation of a synergistic relationship between USDA Forest Service objectives and the needs of
impoverished rural communities of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Northern California. The ongoing
marketing work of HFHC is done in close collaboration with Forest Service and other agency personnel from
the region and across the nation who advise the work of the marketing program and engage with the
Partnership on a regular basis. Additionally, all of our businesses are associated with a local non-profit
partner that provides liaisons with the local Ranger District and community development organizations.
The proposed scope of work merges the ecological, social, and economic objectives of several organizations.
The success of HFHC in addressing multiple objectives is evidenced by the breadth of support we have
received. The USDA Forest Service, the Surdna Foundation and the Bullitt Foundation have supported our
work in ecosystem restoration; Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and Ford
Foundation have helped us address rural poverty and equity issues; and the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation has worked with us as we promote a conservation-based economy. We are proud to have these
governmental and private organizations as cooperators as we implement our collective strategy to chart a
sustainable resource-based future for the Pacific Northwest.
Enclosure 4C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Seattle Showcase replicating and building on
the success of the HFHC Portland Debut
Spring 2003
HFHC and the Environmental Home
Center and Built E
Provide workshops for businesses to develop
strategic plans and operating budgets. Focus
on maximizing the potential of NFP projects
and materials; coach rural forest products
businesses on turning raw materials into
finished products.
Flooring Manufacturing - Spring 2002
Furniture Manufacturing - Summer 2002
Business Development - Fall 2002
Trade Show Training - Spring 2003
HFHC, Green Mountain Woodworks,
Wallowa Resources, Jefferson
Sustainable Development Initiative,
Small Business Development Centers,
Secondary Wood Products
Manufactuing Consortium
Create a sample portfolio of our members
products manufactured from the by-products
of forest restoration – small diameter wood
and underutilized species.
Summer 2002
HFHC and manufacturing partners
Determine a locations for and design an
HFHC showroom space. Design could be for
a permanent location (e.g. store window or
space in retailers such as Environmental
Building Supply or Build-E), or could be
mobile for airports, building lobbies, etc
Fall 2002
HFHC and retail partners
(Environmental Building Supplies,
Built E, Norm Thompson, Endura
Wood Products)
Expand trade show booth to market the
member partners work and specific product
lines.
Summer 2002
HFHC and Design Origins
Advertising campaign focused on targeted
print media
Development phase - Fall 2002
Implemenation phase - Winter 2003 to
Spring 2003
HFHC and Aurora Strategies
Education of HFHC manufacturing members
about marketplace
ongoing
HFHC and Wallowa Resources
Educating marketplace (wholesale buyers,
retail outlets, media, etc.) through focus
groups, market presentations, video
production and distribution, tradeshow
attendance, manufacturer to market
introductions.
ongoing
HFHC and Wallowa Resources and
WJMK Productions
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Personnel
Principle Staff
Other Staff
Subtotal
$17,500.00
$26,600.00
$44,100.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$10,000.00
Fringe Benefits
Principle Staff
Other Staff
Subtotal
$3,850.00
$3,102.00
$6,952.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$2,000.00
$8,000.00
$3,000.00
$8,000.00
$3,000.00
Partner 1
$0.00
$0.00
Partner 2
Total
$0.00
$0.00
$22,500.00
$31,600.00
$54,100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,850.00
$4,102.00
$8,952.00
$0.00
$0.00
$11,000.00
$0.00
$11,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$8,000.00
$0.00
$8,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
Travel
Subtotal
$0.00
Equipment
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,000.00
$1,000.00
$7,000.00
$1,000.00
$21,000.00
$4,000.00
Subtotal
$21,000.00
$4,000.00
Other
Sample Porfolio / Booth
Video / CD Rom
Subtotal
$6,500.00
$6,500.00
$13,000.00
$5,000.00
$5,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$11,500.00
$6,500.00
$18,000.00
Total Costs
$100,052.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$125,052.00
Supplies
Subtotal
$0.00
Contractual
Project (Program) Income1
1
$0.00
$0.00
Program income is the gross revenue generated by a grant or cooperative agreement supported activity during the life of the
grant. Program income can be made by recipients from fees charged for conference or workshop attendance, from rental fees
earned from renting out real property or equipment acquired with grant or cooperative agreement funds, or from the sale of
commodities or items developed under the grant or cooperative agreement. The use of Program Income during the project
period may require prior approval by the granting agency.