Partnerships | Workforce Development | Reinvestment
Philadelphia Reforestation Hub
PowerCorp PHL at Carbon Smart Wood's Innovation Hub in Baltimore, MD.
Day-to-day operations of the sawmill and training program are led by PowerCorp PHL. PowerCorpsPHL is a workforce development organization that engages un- and under-employed 18- to 30-year-olds in immersive, paid programs that result in connections to living wage jobs in energy, green infrastructure, and community-based careers.
Technical assistance and sales and distribution of salvaged wood are provided by Cambium , who is responsible for tracking, testing, design support, and infrastructure development at the site. All the material is tracked through Cambium's transparent supply chain software, Traece™. This circular economy model is an example of inclusive and sustainable urban forest management – from tree establishment through end of life.
The Philadelphia Reforestation Hub is a first-of-its kind public-private-partnership model for wood waste capture and job skills training.
By developing a sawmill and lumber yard at the Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center (ORC), the project aims to give new life to fallen city trees, while providing career development pathways for local residents.
The Reforestation Hub will support the City of Philadelphia in meeting its waste reduction, climate, and community impact goals. As of August 2023, the Reforestation Hub diverted 323 logs from waste.
Our Project Partners
Additionally, 15% of Reforestation Hub profits will be allocated to support urban forestry initiatives including planting new trees in partnership with TreePhilly, targeting low-canopy areas identified in Philadelphia’s Urban Forest Strategic Plan. The initiative aims to create a sustainable revenue stream to support ongoing urban forest maintenance and regeneration.
The project is currently underway with site construction and program design to be completed in the Fall of 2023. Lumber yard operations will supplement the Organic Recycling Center’s ongoing operations, which will remain operational at current capacity.
While the ORC remains open to the public, the Reforestation Hub site is privately operated. For ongoing project updates, sign up for our newsletter below. As the site becomes fully operational, there will be opportunities for scrap material collection and volunteering.
Thank you to our early supporters
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
To inquire about log donations and commercial purchases of Carbon Smart Wood™ from the Reforestation Hub, use the below form. Please note that sales of wood are not conducted onsite.