Paul Owen of Vanport International will grant you access to his decades of experience in trading substantial amounts of product to timber-hungry countries like Japan, China, Korea and more. Register now!

In this can’t-miss, one-hour webinar, Paul will reveal:

* The Asian countries to focus on right now

* What’s hot – the fiber and species currently in demand by countries hungry for American forest products

* Size, types and grades of lumber in demand, by country

* Cultural tips and tricks to help ensure you build successful business relationships

* Logistics information you must have to ensure your exporting success

* How to start exploring business opportunities in Asia

* And more!

Demand is red hot, so be sure and register early!

Details and registration

Title:

Day: Thursday, March 29, 2012
Time: 10:00am Pacific, 11:00am Mountain, 12:00pm Central, 1:00pm Eastern
Duration: 60 minutes
Cost: No Charge
Registration: Reserve your spot today – seats are very limited, so act fast!
Sponsors: The Montana World Trade Center, The Bitterroot Economic Development District, Forest Business Network

(March 15, 2012) MISSOULA, Mont. – Rivertop Renewables (www.rivertop.com), a Montana-based renewable chemicals company, today announced it has successfully scaled its patented process technology from the lab to pilot manufacturing. Rivertop has contracted with DTI (www.danchemtechnology.com), a custom manufacturer of fine and specialty chemical products based in Danville, Virginia, to pilot the manufacture of Rivertop’s sustainable, high performing, cost-competitive, glucarate-based products. Product made in this initial phase of contract manufacturing will be used to fulfill Rivertop’s commercial contracts for bio-based corrosion inhibitors. Remaining volumes of manufactured product will be used by the company and its customers to develop and test glucarate applications in a myriad of other industrial and consumer markets.

“Demonstrating the capability of our technology is another key milestone for our company and proof point for our oxidation process,” said Jere Kolstad, President of Rivertop. “Contract manufacturing is a critical step along the way to a capital-efficient technology deployment strategy that yields a high return on investment.”

Commencing in February 2012, Rivertop’s pilot manufacturing has produced numerous batches of glucarate-based products at approximately 850 pounds per run. DTI’s unique manufacturing technologies and flexibility enabled the accurate scaling of Rivertop’s platform oxidation process. Data derived from these and subsequent runs will enable Rivertop and DTI to scale to a capacity up to 10 million pounds of contract-manufactured product per year. This next scale of production is projected to come online in the fourth quarter of 2012.

“The DTI team is excited to see and support the Rivertop team in reaching another key milestone in their business strategy,” said Tim Condron, CEO of DTI. “Both teams worked tirelessly and collaboratively to meet an aggressive project timeline to transition the Rivertop technology from the lab to a manufacturing environment. This is an exciting time for the Rivertop team and we are positive the market will respond well to this new technology.”

In addition to starting contract manufacturing, Rivertop is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion of its research and development laboratories, including the construction of a semi-works facility, at its headquarters in Missoula, Montana. Successful contract manufacturing combined with the coming semi-works will enable the company to scale directly from pilot to global scale production in the coming years, removing the need for a costly demonstration plant.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified glucaric acid as one of the top 12 chemicals of the future made from renewable sources. Rivertop initially plans to use its glucaric acid products as an effective and cost-competitive replacement for phosphates in the multi-billion dollar markets for global detergent builders, as well as corrosion inhibitors and chelants to protect transportation and industrial infrastructure without damaging water quality. Multiple longer-term opportunities exist in the company’s research with advanced biodegradable polymers, adhesives, and other functional materials. Rivertop’s platform process is capable of utilizing a wide variety of sugars to produce a large spectrum of green chemicals and bio-based products that possess a range of properties with applications in various markets.

About Rivertop Renewables

Based in Missoula, Montana, Rivertop Renewables is innovating a new category of science – Progressive Chemistry. Merging proven science with renewable resources, Rivertop Renewables is creating an abundant and economical supply of sustainable, biodegradable and non-toxic chemicals and bioproducts derived from renewable plant sugars.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/missoula-economic-partnership-to-help-people-interested-in-starting-businesses/article_64bdecd8-6750-11e1-872d-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1oS5LQ8wk

Christine Hamilton-Pennell of Growing Local Economies, Inc. and Don Macke of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship presented the findings from their assessment of our region, addressing the following topics:

• Economic trends within the region
• Role of growth-oriented entrepreneurs in stimulating the regional economy
• Current and potential regional assets to support growth-oriented entrepreneurs
• Defining features of Economic Gardening
• Top growth sectors in the region
• Expected results of Economic Gardening Project
• Economic Gardening Pilot Project
• Questions and Answers – with Participants, the Consultants, and BREDD staff

The Assessment Report compiles information gathered by Christine and Don about the BREDD Region through multiple site visits, in-person and phone interviews with dozens of local stakeholders, and in-depth research about the region.

Concurrent to this Assessment and Strategic Planning Process, BREDD is implementing an Economic Gardening Pilot Project. We are working with one local manufacturing company to provide high-level market intelligence and technical assistance. As additional resources are secured, we hope to grow this Pilot to assist even more businesses.

Don and Christine will use information from their Assessment Report, and the Pilot Project, to inform the final Economic Gardening Strategic Plan for the BREDD Region. We anticipate the final report will be available by fall 2012. Stay tuned!

BREDD Economic Gardening Assessment Report Materials are available here:

• Download the Executive Summary EG Assessment Report
• Download the entire Economic Gardening Assessment Report:
• The One-Hour Webinar was recorded, and can be viewed here: Recorded Economic Gardening Assessment Webinar
• To view just the PowerPoint Presentation (in PDF format) from the webinar, click here: BREDD_Assessment_Webinar_Presentation_PDF

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-s-terraechos-receives-m-in-venture-capital-funding/article_0511cd50-51a6-11e1-827f-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1lk5ZijHc

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Frenchtown Mill Feasibility Study:

BitterRoot Economic Development District (BREDD), Inc is offering interested individuals or organizations an opportunity to submit a Statement of Qualifications to BREDD to prepare a two phase feasibility study for the Frenchtown Mill, located in Frenchtown, Montana. The entire Request for Qualifications can be accessed at http://www.bredd.org.

Summarized Scope of Work:

• Phase I: Analysis and Selection of Potential Industrial Opportunities for In-Depth Analysis:
• Phase II— In-Depth Feasibility Analysis and Final Report
• Final Deliverable: Feasibility Study focused on 3-4 potential Industrial Opportunities for the site

  Additional Information:

• Up to a total of $50,000 is available for this project, made available by the Montana Department of Commerce to BREDD through the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Funds (BSTF) and by M2Green Redevelopment LLC.
• BREDD anticipates that one contract will be issued for the entire scope of work, to one individual or organization.
• The anticipated duration of the project is six (6) months.
• Proposals are due no later than 4:00 p.m. MST on February 1, 2012
• Contact Marcy Allen with questions at 406-258-3435 or mallen@bredd.org.

Full Request For Qualifications:

”Our Headwaters product provides the state a highly effective, affordable and environmentally safe corrosion inhibitor that not only helps keep the roads clear, but reduces the impact on infrastructure and the environment,” said Jere Kolstad, President of Rivertop. ”Essentially MDT will put sugar and salt on our roads to keep winter drivers safe and our state’s economy flowing, while protecting infrastructure investments and our environment.”

Road maintenance departments across the country are increasing the use of liquid deicers rather than traditional road salts due to their effectiveness and ease of application. Furthermore, salt brines can be cost-effectively enhanced to limit their corrosive effects. The roads maintenance industry historically has used phosphate-based inhibitors; however these have been phased-out of use in favor of alternatives that are environmentally benign, like Headwaters.

Rivertop’s Headwaters is derived from sodium gluconate and is formulated to maintain a higher level of consistency and reliability as compared to other biobased inhibitors.

Broadening the local economic impact of the contract, Rivertop will work with two other Montana-based companies to supply MDT with bio-based inhibitors. Rivertop will team with a local chemical company and a local trucking company to formulate and deliver the inhibitor from Missoula to the MDT’s supply depots throughout the state.

To READ full article click here

A new biotech partnership has formed in Missoula to examine whether the niche area of vaccine production could become an economic driver for the region.

The Missoula Vaccine Partnership will explore the possibility of developing a regional center of excellence for vaccine production. A $25,000 Big Sky Trust Fund grant was awarded to the project last week to help study the concept’s feasibility.

“What we’re trying to do is understand, can it be done here?” Rocky Mountain Biologicals president Suresh Daniel said.

Daniel pitched the vaccine production hub idea to the Missoula Economic Partnership and has worked for more than a year with the economic development initiative to form the advisory board that is now guiding the process.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/biotech-partnership-formed-to-examine-vaccine-production-feasibility-in-missoula/article_791d80f2-1314-11e1-a881-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1eMOry4sb

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/missoula-based-rivertop-renewables-secures-m-investment/article_b8dd8280-0812-11e1-84a2-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1dLC4nN4Z