Endowment for Communities in Transition Formed

A new endowment set up with $200 million US dollars as part of the Canadian Softwood Lumber Agreement is intended to help workers through economic transition in small communities where mill closures have a major local economic impact.

"We hope to create systemic, transformative change to assist those workers who were making $20 an hour in a paper mill or a pulpwood mill who are now working in the fast food restaurants without benefits," said Dick Molpus of Jackson, president of the 11-member board of directors of the United States Endowment for Forestries & Communities Inc.

The endowment's chief executive officer is Carlton Owen of Greenville, S.C., a forester and wildlife biologist.

Roxie, Mississippi, where Georgia-Pacific closed its chip and sawboard mill on November 15, is hoping to benefit from the Endowment. Read it in the Sun Herald.