“The purpose of the Black Belt Initiative … is to show them … I’m talking about sixth grade, the merit of staying home and keeping a career here in the timber industry,” Ivey said. “Let’s show the young people (that) if they do good in math and science and go to a two-year college with a technical degree or a four-year degree with engineering, it’s doable.”

Foundation representative Tom Saunders said it’s all about getting others to think in a new way about forestry and see the benefits.

“The negative images aren’t fair to our industry,” Saunders said. “We want to create in this industry an importance in our young people’s lives; timber touches your lives and we believe it’s an asset.”

Saunders, who received a Bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Auburn University, said he didn’t know what a paper mill was until his junior year in college.

“Reaching out to these kids at a young age would be valuable,” Saunders said. “We support anything in schools that helps these kids do not only good in reading, but in math and science.”

Goals of the initiative, Saunders said, include bringing more public awareness about forestry through billboards and advertisements, and getting communities and schools involved.