A $4 million grant is helping the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) focus on innovations in the forest products sector, an industry central to Wisconsin’s economy and environment.
WIST, a center within the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point, received the grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in March. Since that time, WIST Executive Director Paul Fowler has led a series of changes and upgrades to the organization’s infrastructure. With an expanded team, including four new staff members and student interns, WIST has enhanced laboratory capabilities, adding equipment to conduct advanced research on compostable materials and plant growth applications.
“With WIST, our Wisconsin Forestry Center and our paper science and chemical engineering program, I am incredibly proud of our college’s ongoing investments in this essential sector of Wisconsin’s economy,” said Brian Sloss, dean of the College of Natural Resources.
The grant aims to address current challenges in the $24.4 billion forest products industry, Wisconsin’s fourth-largest manufacturing sector. This sector employs over 61,000 people across the state, making it a crucial component of Wisconsin’s economy. As markets for forest and fiber products evolve, WIST’s innovations and support for product development can help rejuvenate economic centers around forest products, particularly in underutilized pulp and fiber resources and packaging and tissue production.
“There are markets available for these forest products,” said Fowler. “Packaging and tissue production represent potential growth areas in Wisconsin, but many businesses may not know where to begin. WIST can guide them in building a roadmap for success.”
The WEDC’s grant came after WIST and its partners advanced to the final stage of the Build Back Better (BBB) national program. While WIST did not receive that grant, Gov. Tony Evers and WEDC recognized the importance of WIST’s proposal, offering the $4 million grant to support the institute’s vision and initiatives.
“As a multi-billion-dollar industry that employs more than 60,000 Wisconsinites, there’s no doubt that our paper and forest products sector is a key industry that contributes mightily to our state’s economic success,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m incredibly proud of our continued efforts to invest in and bolster this critical part of Wisconsin’s proud heritage.
“The folks at UW-Stevens Point are doing great work to support the sustainability of Wisconsin’s forestry industry, and we’re excited to be providing critical funding to the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology to help ensure the long-term viability of this critical economic driver for our state,” Evers said.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, Fowler’s team is bolstering WIST’s role as a resource for compostability and recyclability testing in fiber-based products, providing businesses with critical data to make informed decisions on product development and market entry.
“WIST’s expertise and industry connections can help businesses fine-tune their strategies or find the right starting point for transformative changes,” said Fowler. “Our goal is to help rural forest communities thrive by unlocking this untapped potential.”
Businesses interested in exploring new opportunities in forest products, pulp, or agricultural products are welcome to inquire at 715-346-2111 or wist@uwsp.edu.