At the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, US Department of Agriculture Administrator J.R. Claeys announced the USDA is guaranteeing $115.2 million across eight states (California, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wisconsin) through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) to ensure sawmills and other wood processing facilities have the necessary funding to establish, reopen, expand, or improve their operations. These investments represent a commitment to expand American timber production by 25%, reduce wildfire risk, and save American lives and communities by strengthening domestic wood processing capacity. …A selection of project highlights from states receiving funding include: $12.3 million loan to Beachcombers in Oklahoma to acquire two Teal-Jones sawmills, located in Antlers, Oklahoma, and Liberty, Mississippi. $800,000 loan to Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises in Wisconsin to assist in re-opening a sawmill in Shawano County, Wisconsin.
In related coverage with different highlights from states receiving funding: