Technical Assistance to Forest Businesses
News Release, June 2, 2011: Grant Funds Assist Regional Forest Businesses
BREDD is partnering with Craig Rawlings and the Forest Business Network to provide technical assistance to regional forest businesses.
This project specifically targets business partnerships that are working on a regional business plan to produce renewable energy using woody biomass, and provides technical assistance for those who are seeking additional ways to diversify their forestry businesses.
Project Components:
- Assistance with financial and marketing plans to sawmills, loggers and other forest-related businesses impacting BREDD’s service area.
- Maintenance of a centralized, accessible source of technical and marketing information for forest products and businesses.
- Development of biomass energy businesses at Montana sawmills.
- Coordination and communication with public and private sector to optimize forest products sector diversification in the state.
In response to changes in the economic climate, leaders in the Bitterroot Region have recognized the need to diversify the economy and are actively pursuing regional strategies to do so, including diversification of forest businesses. By creating a more inviting business development atmosphere and infrastructure, economically diverse communities will help existing business grow, and encourage new businesses.
The Forest Business Technical Assistance Project will provide support and expertise to business partnerships that are working on a regional plan to produce renewable energy using woody biomass. The Project will also provide technical assistance for those who are seeking additional ways to diversify their forestry businesses.
Technical assistance will help forest businesses who have been investing in innovative technologies to expand their production capacity into green market places and branch into renewable energy production as a means to both conserve energy and produce renewable energy. Building a regional biomass energy production business plan at existing mill sites will support green economic efforts and help mills compete globally.
This project will increase capacity for regional planning and collaboration between cooperatives and companies to optimize the region’s energy portfolio and distribution.
For more information contact Melissa Fisher at mfisher@bredd.org or 406-258-3423. This project is funded by the Economic Development Administration as part of the region’s Community Trade Adjustments Strategic Plan.
