Economic Feasibility of Mass Timber Manufacturing in Minnesota

Abstract

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics was contacted by Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX) to study the market and economic feasibility of introducing Mass Timber manufacturing (e.g. cross-laminated timber (CLT) production) for the state of Minnesota and/or Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region. The BBER partnered with the UMD Center for Economic Development (CED) on this project. The overall study addresses three primary objectives: an analysis of building construction market demand growth and projections, an estimate of the current and potential ability of local lumber producers and wholesalers, and an economic impact analysis of the new industry in the region.