OpportunityTitle: Create a Cooperative Marketing Network In WNC
CategoryExplanation: Proposals are requested to manage a project that will employ unemployed and underemployed forest products workers and will assist them in preparing their businesses for more efficient production when demand for forest products returns.  The persons to be employed by this project are those working with both timber and non-timber forest products as well as marketing specialists, community organizers, and other forest products advisors.
Description: Proposal Content and Priorities Content &#149; A cover page including contact information for the project leader and the lead entity submitting the proposal. The cover page must include the signature of a person authorized to commit the lead organization to the work proposed. &#149; A not to exceed ten-page proposal addressing project management and the proposed approach to forest products business development. Proposals will describe the objectives, approach, projected workforce, cooperators, qualifications of the team, and a general budget. &#149; Attachments of up to twenty pages may include biographic information for key personnel, description of the organization(s) or business(es) or other entity(ies) that will participate in the completion of this project, descriptions of any project partners including their roles and their approximate level of effort in the proposed project. Attachments may include descriptions of recent relevant work of a similar nature. Examples of the organization&#146;s ability to manage large amounts of funds consistent with federal requirements will be particularly important to a successful proposal. Examples of Possible Approaches &#149; Connecting local producers of forest products with local consumers of forest products. &#149; Training producers to be more effective in sustainable production and local marketing. &#149; Assisting producers in exploring niche markets and in diversifying their forest products operations. &#149; Supporting existing forest products marketing cooperatives and organizing new ones where demand exists among forest producers or forest product consumers. &#149; Supporting cooperation among forest product practitioners, such as in using shared equipment or facilities, even where a formal marketing cooperative may not be needed. &#149; Arranging opportunities for improving communications among forest product practitioners. &#149; Other approaches that address the goals of this solicitation.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Assistant Director for Research Southern Research Station
GrantorContactText: Susan Fox &lt;br/&gt;Assistant Director for Research &lt;br/&gt;Phone 8282574309