Maine’s Pleasant River Lumber Awarded Grant; Will Expand Two Sawmills
The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) recently awarded a $4,226,000 challenge grant from the Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0 program to the Pleasant River Lumber Company. The $4.2 million will be used toward a $12 million expansion at Pleasant River Lumber’s mill on the Milo Road and a larger $20 million initiative between the Dover-Foxcroft location and the company’s Moose River Mill in Jackman.
Pleasant River Lumber Co-President Jason Brochu, who runs the locally owned operation and its five facilities across Maine with his brother Co-President Chris Brochu, said they applied to the Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0 program and recently learned of the awarding of the approximate $4.2 million challenge grant.
MTI approved seven challenge grants totaling a combined $10.9 million in the final funding round. The program is financed by a $45 million bond approved by voters last June that MTI manages on behalf of the state.
“We ended up with $4,226,000 toward the $12 million project,” Jason Brochu said, saying the company is working on a larger $20 million expansion between Dover-Foxcroft and Jackman. He said financing is in place for the rest of the project.
“That was a very competitive process and it was wide ranging,” Brochu said as 18 projects across Maine received grants. “We put together a real good project for the state of Maine. I think we were chosen because it is shovel-ready and has infrastructure that will be here for a very long time.”
From The Piscataquis Observer: observer-me.com.
Latest News
Housing Starts Increase In April
Housing starts across the U.S. increased in April 2.2% to 1.4 million according the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New Residential Construction report released May 17. Notably, this is 22.3% lower than April 2022’s 1.8 million. Single-family home construction increased 1.6% to its highest level so far in 2023. Starts of apartment…
Timber Processing Combs The Ligna Fair Aisles
The Timber Processing magazine team reports an active first half of the week for sawmill machinery exhibitors at the week-long Ligna international wood processing fair held in Hannover, Germany. Bandmills were not in short supply, including this EWD bandmill system in the middle of Sawmill Hall. Timber Processing magazines were practically flying off the shelf at the Timber Processing…
Lumbering Along With James Oliver Dunn
Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Timber Processing May 2023 – Some of my very first memories are playing around my grandmother’s house located on a county road in Brushy Creek, Ala., which is a suburb of East Chapman, Ala. (that’s a joke)…
Conifex Announces McLellan As President, COO
Conifex Timber Inc. has announced that Andrew McLellan has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. As President, McLellan will lead Conifex’s business units and pursue value-added opportunities in fiber procurement, lumber manufacturing and marketing, green power generation, and other complementary businesses. Andrew retains responsibility for forest…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.