Forest Entrepreneurship Training
Sierra Business Council, alongside our partners at Sierra Commons, held a series of free trainings for entrepreneurs looking to establish a forest-based and/or wood products business.
These trainings were geared towards individuals and small businesses that have started or are interested in starting a business in forest thinning and management, defensible space, prescribed fire application, small mass timber product manufacturing, small diameter timber utilization, biofuel, bioenergy, home hardening, plant restoration, other non-timer-related businesses, and/or forestry logistics.
The Forest Entrepreneurship Series was designed for aspiring and existing business owners looking to start or grow their work in forest-related industries. From forest thinning and management to bioenergy, timber product manufacturing, home hardening, and defensible space services, this program supported entrepreneurs in building businesses that contribute to catastrophic wildfire prevention, sustainable land use, and economic development. These bootcamps were offered in communities across Northern California, with virtual options available for greater accessibility. Participants received ongoing support, including a weekly online accountability group, one-on-one advising, and personalized technical assistance.
Intro to Forest Entrepreneurship:
Build a Strong Foundation
The Intro to Forest Entrepreneurship boot camp provides a comprehensive foundation in business fundamentals, equipping participants with the tools to launch and manage a successful forest-based enterprise. Over two intensive days, students will dive into key topics such as entity selection, pricing, cash flow, insurance, marketing, competitive analysis, and an overview of government contracting and permitting.
Advanced Forest Entrepreneurship: Scale and Grow Your Business
The Advanced Forest Entrepreneurship weekend boot camp is designed for those ready to take their business to the next level. Participants will explore financing strategies, business growth and scaling, step-by-step government contracting and subcontracting, workforce development, and industry trends to position their businesses for long-term success. With a focus on sustainable expansion, collaboration, and emerging market opportunities, this course provides the insights and resources needed to scale operations, secure funding, and strengthen business resilience in the evolving forestry sector.
We recommend you take the Intro course before taking the Advanced course, but it is not a requirement.
Build a Thriving Forest Business!
With climate change and catastrophic wildfires increasing pressure on our forests, the demand for innovative, land-based businesses grows yearly. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your existing business, this course provides the skills, connections, and resources you need to succeed.
This program is tailored for businesses in forest thinning and management, defensible space, prescribed fire application, timber product manufacturing, small-diameter timber utilization, biofuel, bioenergy, home hardening, plant restoration, and forestry logistics.
This is more than a course—it’s a launchpad for success in an industry vital to the future of our forests and rural communities.
Funding for this program was provided by a Good Jobs Challenge EDA-funded grant through the Foundation for California Community Colleges to conduct forestry and fire-mitigation training programs in the Sierra Nevada region of northeastern California.
About Robert Trent:
The Forest Entrepreneurship program will be led by Robert Trent, the founder of Nevada City’s nonprofit business incubator Sierra Commons and an experienced consultant who has taught hundreds of entrepreneurs over the years.
Robert has been consulting with rural small businesses for over 25 years, bringing extensive expertise in planning, marketing, and public relations. As a business advisor with the Sierra Small Business Development Center and a business educator, he has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs in launching, growing, and selling their businesses. In recognition of his contributions, the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce honored Robert as the 2024 Business Person of the Year. He also received the Sierra SBDC Center Star Award for positively impacting business development across a five-county region. A seasoned entrepreneur, grant writer, and course facilitator, he holds an M.A. in Instructional Technologies from San Francisco State University and is committed to fostering thriving, sustainable economies in rural communities throughout the West.
Read more about Robert and Sierra Commons here.
About this Program:
Guest speakers and instructors will also contribute to instruction, teaching basic foundations of good business – from finance, pricing, and cash flow to research, marketing, and sales and the complex world of government contracts and permits.
The curriculum is designed to provide:
- Technical assistance to launch small businesses and entrepreneurial development focused on wood-based businesses
- Training and guidance for transforming businesses from individual ownership to cooperative businesses to support economic justice at business ownership levels
- Opportunities to showcase emerging business opportunities that have co-benefits of wildfire reduction and economic development, particularly at the nexus of wood product development and outdoor recreation in rural forested communities
- A nexus to existing markets and identified needs such as forest thinning and management, application of prescribed fire, small mass timber product manufacturing, small diameter timber utilization, biofuels manufacture, and logistics and support
Funding for this program was provided by a Good Jobs Challenge EDA-funded grant through the Foundation for California Community Colleges to conduct forest and fire-mitigation training programs in the Sierra Nevada region of northeastern California.
Registered students are expected to attend the classes they sign up for, as well as accountability groups and free advising sessions. These courses fill up fast and we have many people on a waiting list so please sign up only if you can commit to the course.
Join Us In Creating A More Resilient Sierra.
To learn more about this program, contact:
info@sierracommons.org
530.582.4800