About Us
Our Mission
Our Region
Our History
The KWPA was formed in 2006 as result of two separate state agency initiatives. The Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation (CPWDC) had received funding from the PA Department of Labor and Industry to formalize a lumber and wood industry partnership within their region.
In 2006, a core group of lumber and wood companies formalized KWPA, established the organization as a 501(c) (6) organization and started recruiting members. In the central portion of Pennsylvania served by the KWPA, the wood industry is a larger proportional contributor to the economy than any other region in the state. The $1.7 billion of production by the wood products industry accounts for 15% of the total manufacturing output of the region and 5% of the region’s total economy. The nearly 12,000 individuals employed in wood products account for 19% of the region’s manufacturing employment. Total economic impact by the wood products industry in this region is $2.3 billion. (Penn State 2007)
Our Goals
- Improve the available workforce with increased skills relevant to the needs or members and the industry in the region
- Promote career opportunities within the industry through education and outreach to educational institutions, elected officials and partners
- Create partnerships with school districts to enhance their curriculum and create interest in member companies
- Promote, market and facilitate the sales of PA value-added forest products
- Reduce, limit or eliminate exportation of unprocessed logs from PA
- Promote sustainable forest management practices