LANSING - State Representative Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) today announced that the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) has been awarded a $5,000 grant for outreach and education for their Forest Stewardship Outreach and Education Program. The funds are federal pass-through dollars administered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that provide support for programs which make educational opportunities available to students and the public to learn about forestry and the environmental and economic impact that the industry has in our state.
"I would like to commend the LISD for their hard work and diligence in acquiring these federal funds," Rep. Spade said. "Furthering forestry education in both our schools and in a civic setting is crucial to educating people about the role and impact of one of Michigan's largest industries. I am glad to see that the DNR has recognized the steps that the LISD is taking by supporting forestry education in their high school curriculum. There is great potential for growth in Michigan's forestry sector, even in Lenawee County, and programs like this will ensure that we have the highly skilled workers that our community and state needs to keep growing Michigan's economy."
The Department of Natural Resources, Forest Stewardship Program, provides assistance for individuals, public agencies and non-profit private entities [501(c)]. The purpose of the grant program is to increase understanding of the benefits of actively managing forest ecosystems through forest stewardship. The Forest Stewardship Outreach and Education Program focuses on the 10.5 million acres of non-industrial private land held by over 350,000 landowners. It is important that landowners have good technical information to make informed decisions about managing our natural resources and this federally funded program focuses on providing that information. For more information on the Forest Stewardship Program, contact the DNR at (517) 335-3355.