FOREST INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 2% OF JOBS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S., MOST OF THEM IN RURAL AREAS. SUSTAINABLY MANAGED FAMILY FORESTS AND LOGGING BUSINESSES ARE CRITICAL TO THIS INDUSTRY. ONE-THIRD OF LOGGING BUSINESS OWNERS ARE 60+ YEARS-OLD, AND THERE ARE FEW NEW BUSINESSES. BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE YOUNG, BEGINNING, VETERANS, AND MEMBERS OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS ARE CRITICAL TO THE SECTOR'S FUTURE. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FAMILY FOREST LANDOWNERS, MILLS, AND LOGGING BUSINESSES IS UNCLEAR, BUT IT AFFECTS SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO 1) IDENTIFY CHALLENGES FACED BY YOUNG AND BEGINNING LOGGING BUSINESS OWNERS; 2) EVALUATE SUCCESSION PLANS FOR LOGGING BUSINESSES; 3) DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO HELP YOUNG, BEGINNING, VETERAN, AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED LOGGING BUSINESS OWNERS OPERATE PROFITABLY; 4) ASSESS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED LANDOWNERS AND LOGGING BUSINESSES; 5) ASSESS THEIMPACT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MILLS' TIMBER PROCUREMENT PRACTICES ON LOGGING BUSINESS FORMATION AND RETENTION; AND 6) DEVELOP AN ONLINE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL THAT WILL HELP LOGGING BUSINESSES ESTIMATE HARVESTING COSTS. WE WILL CONDUCT INTERVIEWS WITH LOGGING BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL AS SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FAMILY FOREST LANDOWNERS AND MILLS. WE WILL CONDUCT MAIL SURVEYS OF LOGGING BUSINESSES AND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MILLS. FINALLY, WE WILL DEVELOP AN ONLINE DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR LOGGING BUSINESS OWNERS TO ESTIMATE COSTS. RESULTS WILL INFORM EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED VITALITY OF FOREST LANDOWNERS, LOGGING BUSINESSES, AND FOREST INDUSTRY IN THE RURAL SOUTH, THEREBY ENSURING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.