Sonora, CA — Around 30 business leaders attended a luncheon on Wednesday afternoon hosted by the Tuolumne County Business Council.
It was held at the Mother Lode Job Training conference room on Mono Way, and the guest speakers were Mike and Vicki Albrecht of Sierra Resource Management, former Tuolumne County Supervisor (and longtime timber industry leader) Dick Pland, and former county supervisor Sherri Brennan (now representing California Associated Loggers).
Mike Albrecht, who has been a leader with state and national organizations, such as the California Associated Loggers and the American Loggers Council, opened with an update on lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, to change policies related to forest management. He also provided historical context, noting that there were 25 lumber mills in Tuolumne County in 1850, and only two today (Standard and Chinese Camp).
However, he expressed optimism that Tuolumne County is growing its timber and biomass industries, while most other areas of the country are declining.
The local industry directly supports around 425 jobs, plus about 100 additional people working in logging, and 75 truckers, pushing the overall number above 600. He added that those jobs support other professions, creating a multiplying effect.
Albrecht highlighted federal initiatives aimed at making it easier to salvage dead timber, an effort to add biomass to renewable fuel standards, the US Fix Our Forest Act, an MOU between the American Loggers Council and the US Forest Service, and an Executive Order signed by President Trump aiming to reverse course so that the US is no longer the largest wood importer instead of exporter.
Citing the need for federal changes, former Supervisor Brennan provided slides noting how the number of wildfires has significantly increased from 2002-2024, as 168 million acres burned, 145,000 structures were destroyed, and 1,187 people died.
Brennan expressed optimism about major developments in the planning stages, a Central Sierra Forestry Workforce Training Center, to help boost local training opportunities and projects in the Stanislaus National Forest. Community and timber industry leaders are looking to create a multiple-use ecosystem in the vicinity of the federal SERAL project, and develop a model that can be replicated in other areas. Brennan noted that the Sonora Area Foundation has been helping to address funding for infrastructure-related needs. She added that the Sonora High Wildcat Ranch is being looked at for a heavy equipment and logging training pathway program. Other partners helping the overall effort include the Central Sierra Economic Development District, Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office, SPI, CAL Fire, Columbia College, Tuolumne County government, and several others. The group stressed the need to train the next generation to take on these types of timber industry jobs that play a critical role in the community.
At the end of the presentation, Tuolumne County Business Council President Tom Crosby heard feedback from the organization’s members about making supporting biomass an area of extra focus for the group moving forward, citing the negative impacts of wildfires, job creation, and potential long-term benefits like reducing fire insurance costs.
The Tuolumne County Business Council was formed in 2008 and includes a diverse group of area business representatives with a mission to take an active role in identifying key issues and facilitating change to support economic growth and prosperity in the county.
