The Grand Rapids City Council has officially acknowledged support for a state proposed incentive program for the wood pellet production industry, recognizing that investments are required in expanding such businesses locally at this time.Â
According to the quarterly census of employment and wages, from 2008 to 2019, the seven counties of northeast Minnesota saw a loss of 1,466 jobs, 34 businesses and $28 million in wages from the forest product industry. This same data shows that between 2013 and 2018, Itasca County saw a loss of 20% of its independent forestry and logging operations and 12% of its independent truckers.Â
Despite these losses, a 2017 study by the University of Minnesota-Duluthâs Labovitz School of Business found that the forestry sector still contributes nearly 3,000 jobs, $160 million of labor income and more than $800 million in output to the economy of a 10-county region of north-central Minnesota and the sector still presents opportunities for growth.Â