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The Regional Community Economic Revitalization Team (RCERT) 

 functions as a forum to discuss issues, to help remove barriers 

 and impediments to implementation of NEAI, to coordinate program 

 delivery and assistance, and to help ensure equitable 

 distribution of funds among the three States. The committee 

 includes representatives from 14 federal agencies and state, 

 local and tribal governments of the region. At the national 

 level, the Multi-Agency Command oversees the in^jlementation of 

 the economic side of the Northwest Forest Plan. 



Forest Service NEAI has invested $12 million in watershed 

 restoration through the Jobs In The Woods (JITW) program and has 

 awarded 300 contracts. Over 99% of the contractors and workers 

 live in or operate their businesses within the affected region. 

 The ecosystem restoration work includes projects such as 

 repairing problem roads, building fish rearing ponds, and 

 controlling erosion through planting vegetation. 



Data on the number of workers employed and their wages based on 

 60% of the JITW contracts awarded in 1995 show 2,225 workers have 

 been enployed, 1,010 of whom were displaced timber workers, at an 

 average wage and benefit of $17.10 an hour. We should have more 

 con^lete data availcible late this summer. 



