TL/DR –
The US Forest Service has provided $5m in financial aid to the Montana wood products industry as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Eight companies, including sawmills, wood product manufacturers, and logging operations, received grant money for innovation and infrastructure assistance, which is aimed at helping firms upgrade and replace old machinery and equipment. This move comes amidst recent turmoil in the forest products industry and aims to promote and maintain healthy forests, reduce the amount of fuel for wildfires, increase forest resilience to fire, and foster growth within the industry.
Financial Support Boosts Montana Wood Products Industry
The Montana wood products industry has gained financial aid from the U.S. Forest Service under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Eight companies from sawmills, wood products manufacturers, and logging operations sectors have been awarded a combined total of $5 million in grant money for innovation and infrastructure assistance.
Funding Allocation for Companies
- Kanduch Logging: $229,973
- Panhandle Forest Products: $300,000
- Montana Technology Enterprise Center: $300,000
- California Hotwood, Inc.: $189,045
- Sun Mountain Lumber, Inc.: $1,000,000
- Stillwater Post and Pole LLC: $1,000,000
- SmartLam NA Enterprises US, LLC: $1,000,000
- Panhandle Forest Products Inc.: $1,000,000
These funds will aid in upgrading and replacing outdated machinery and equipment. Additionally, the grants will help the companies’ ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain healthy forests by reducing wildfire fuel and increasing forest resilience.
The funds are sourced from the U.S. Forest Service’s annual appropriations and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Amidst the recent upheaval in the forest products industry, which saw the closure of Roseburg Forest Products and Pyramid Mountain Lumber, the U.S. Forest Service hopes these funds will encourage industry growth.
U.S. Forest Service State Deputy Director of Tribal and Private Forestry Jen Hensiek underlined their goal of supporting viable markets and fostering success. These investments aim to facilitate the continuous support of local communities by the wood products industry through job creation and economic benefits.
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