To support one of the state’s key economic engines, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has been granted two million to help county governments repair and replace infrastructure for the timber industry.
The Log Efficiency Grant program aims to address the growing burden of transportation costs that loggers and timber owners face. Senior Economic Developer Al Jones with the AFC says the goal is to replace weight-restricted bridges, culverts, and places with storm water drainage, forcing timber companies to take costly detours.
“The cost of transportation is really getting high,” said Jones. ” If you have to haul timber outside the shortest route to get around a load-restricted or otherwise restricted bridge, that can really eat into the profits.”
Alabama has 1,950 statutorily limited bridges whose maintenance falls under county commissions. The grant program offers up to $400,000 per project to address infrastructure issues in rural areas.
“The local loggers and even the mills and manufacturers say we have to spend extra money on this particular road specifically; that’s what we’re looking for,” said Jones.
The timber industry was recently highlighted as a key focus area in the state’s new economic development strategy. The Alabama Department of Commerce Catalyst identified the sector as one of the top economic drivers for the state.
“It is a multi-billion dollar effect on the economy in Alabama every year,” said Jones. “It’s absolutely huge, and having in Catalyst, believe it or not, that puts us up there with aerospace, automotive, automotive battery, your really high important activities.”
Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Legislators passed the Rural Logging Efficiency Act in 2023, funded by the general fund budget.
Statewide county commissions have until March 14, to submit their grant applications. Once the grant agreement is in place, the county commissioners can begin construction immediately, with a 24-month timeline for completion.
In the late spring of 2025, the AFC will announce which areas will be awarded the funding.
