After remaining closed for about a year, a significant mill in Shawano County is set to reopen, providing a boost to the timber industry in the Northwoods.
This marks the first instance of a chip mill in the U.S. being acquired by a logger cooperative, highlighting a unique development in the industry.
The reopening of the Shawano County mill comes at a crucial time, as recent years have seen the closure of mills in Park Falls, Wisconsin Rapids, and Duluth. This has resulted in limited options for timber processing and increased transportation distances for haulers.
Henry Schienebeck, executive director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association and the Forest Industry Safety Training Alliance (FISTA), emphasized the significance of having more local mill capacity. “Transportation is a big cost, so the more mill capacity we can have at a local level, that reduces transportation, it brings the cost of raw material down, and it helps, overall, to keep the industries that are there operating,” he said.
In 2021, FISTA provided sustainable forestry training to approximately 1,700 loggers, while this year the number has decreased to around 1,100. Schienebeck suggested this decline might indicate a shift as loggers explore alternative opportunities, with many nearing retirement age.
Revitalization efforts for the sawmill are being spearheaded by Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises, supported by an $800,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program.
Andrew Iverson, Wisconsin’s state director for Rural Development, expressed optimism about the timber industry’s potential for growth, stating, “We want to see the timber industry grow. There’s been a lot of challenges with the timber industry, but it’s a big part of Wisconsin history. It’s a big part of our environment. It’s about forestry health. It’s about supporting local rural communities and then providing America with American made products.”
During a meeting with the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Board, Iverson discussed the loan program and other support mechanisms available through Rural Development. He highlighted the importance of educating industry leaders about these opportunities.
The Trump Administration had previously advocated for increased timber production across U.S. forestlands, but closures of facilities have hindered efforts to meet these production goals. Iverson noted that investing in rural areas, such as the Shawano County mill, can have a substantial impact on the industry.
Schienebeck acknowledged a lack of awareness about some of the programs offered by Rural Development, expressing hope that increased knowledge could lead to enhanced financial support for equipment upgrades. “If we can educate our members, and they can go to their bank and say, ‘Well, did you know this program, this program, this program,’ and it might open up more doors than we can even think about today,” he added.
The Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program is managed by the USDA Forest Service.
Originally published by WXPR as part of the Wisconsin News Collaborative.
