Urban Trees to Household Furniture (NA-99-0410)

A vocational training and urban wood utilization project.

This project has combined two of our precious natural resources, people and trees. We accomplished two main objectives. One, was to add value to low-quality, hardwood lumber, and urban trees that are unwanted or storm damaged. Two, was to provide vocational training and a sense of well-being for the physically and mentally challenged clients of Spectrum Industries who will build quality furniture and craft items that will be marketed throughout the Midwest. This project has been successful in obtaining over 8,500 B.F. of lumber from unwanted trees that were derived from city tree cuttings, from clearing trees at housing developments, and from individual citizens who needed a tree removed. Through the use of grant funds, we have been able to assist Spectrum Industries in establishing a sound woodworking business that provides quality vocational training for their clients. The goal of Spectrum Industries is to have this woodworking program continue to grow in such as way that it allows individuals to move into competitive jobs, and to provide high quality products for the community to use and enjoy. We feel that this project has served as an educational model to demonstrate that value can be added to trees that are removed and used for lumber and also assist an organization in establishing a sound business for their clients to work and train in, so they can possible move into competitive jobs in the community.

Attachments

Click here to download the final grant report.