The Center advances its mission through network-based programs to create jobs, leverage investment and conserve forests for community benefit. Our program strategy focuses on locally grounded projects to secure tangible benefits for the region’s people, communities and ecosystems. Here’s is how we do it:
Modern Wood Heating
Catalyze market demand for high-efficiency, modern wood heating systems to reduce heating costs, keep dollars circulating locally, reduce net carbon dioxide emissions and generate millions of dollars of positive economic impact in the region. More
Wood Products Innovation
Assist wood products manufacturers to implement innovations and advance worker training and career opportunities. These programs help businesses become more competitive, enabling them to sustain and create living-wage jobs. More
Community Forests
Advance creation of locally-owned and managed community forests that conserve forestland and generate economic and community benefits such as recreational tourism, timber income and outdoor classrooms. More
Tourism
Provide quality-based branding, training and policy support to tourism-based businesses and communities to strengthen the quality of visitor experiences and improve job opportunities in the outdoor recreation tourism industry. More
Tax Credit Financing
Facilitate New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financings that provide capital for and subsidize multimillion dollar projects that promote the forest-based economy while also providing community and environmental benefits. Eligible projects include working forestland, outdoor recreational tourism, renewable energy, logging and forest products manufacturing. More
Regional Strategy
Advocate for the needs of the Northern Forest’s communities at the state and federal level. The Center brings a unique regional perspective, grounded by specific local projects, to each state capital and the region’s congressional delegation and federal agency staff in Washington, D.C. to help shape public policy and secure federal funding for the Northern Forest. More
Ways of the Woods
Create a stronger sense of place and understanding about people's connections to the forest and through Ways of the Woods, the Center's exhibition about the Northern Forest. The Center shares this one-of-a-kind mobile museum with colleges, museums and other organizations who host the displays and integrate them into their own programming. More
Carbon & Water
Create and promote new voluntary markets such as the Clear Water Carbon Fund, allowing visitors, businesses and others to support local conservation projects that repair and protect forested watersheds and increase carbon storage. More
"Our working landscape is an incredible economic, environmental and community asset. The Center has developed programs that can boost income and create jobs in forest-based businesses and generate community benefits from the landscape. This is exactly what we're striving to do in Vermont"