USDA Promotes Timber Output In Oregon, Nevada

U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Under Secretary Todd Lindsey recently announced the agency is guaranteeing $80 million through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) and Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program to support businesses in Oregon and Nevada, boost domestic timber production, and improve forest health. According to a news release, these investments represent a commitment by the Trump Administration to expand American timber production by 25%, reduce wildfire risk, and save American lives and communities by strengthening domestic wood processing capacity.

“The Timber Production Expansion Partnership program showcases our unified USDA approach in action, bringing together Rural Development and the Forest Service to deliver results for rural America,” says USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “These investments will help strengthen America’s timber industry, support jobs in rural communities, and expand the capacity we need to actively manage our forests. By investing in Oregon and Nevada’s forest products sector, USDA is reducing wildfire risk, strengthening local economies, and ensuring America’s timber resources continue to power our Nation’s prosperity.”

“This investment in the Timber Production Expansion Partnership program demonstrates an important step towards strengthening America’s wood products infrastructure, and rural economies.” adds Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “This supports Forest Service’s ability to actively manage the land, reduce the risk of wildfire, and ensure wood products from our national forests support rural communities.”

This funding announcement includes:

• $50 million in TPEP and Business and Industry Guaranteed loans to Tahoe Forest Products, LLC. in Nevada, in partnership with MapleMark Bank, to assist the business to expand processing capabilities, including kilns, utilizing timber from Nevada and California, a planer mill, and a new saw line. This expansion will allow the business to shift from raw material production to finished lumber suitable for sale to retail distributors and large-scale construction markets. In addition, the business will increase its capacity for lumber production from purely rough lumber to premium lumber by 60,000 MBF.

• $30 million in TPEP and Business and Industry Guaranteed loans to Clatskanie Scion LLC, in Oregon, in partnership with First Interstate Bank. Clatskanie Scion LLC will use the funding to expand operations for Myers Woodline to manufacture industrial lumber products and bolster the region’s timber industry. This project includes construction to permanent financing for a new sawmill and installation of related equipment and is expected to create at least 35 jobs.