PRESS RELEASE: Sustainable Lumber Wins Chase Bank Small Business Grant Award
Posted: September 21, 2015Source: ABC Fox Montana
MISSOULA –
A hefty grant boosts a small Missoula company, where the employees lovingly call themselves “treehuggers.”
And they plan to use the money to promote sustainable lumber practices.
As a part of the Chase Mission Main Street Grant, Missoula’s sustainable lumber company is receiving $100,000 to expand their business.
Those with the company say 100% of their products come from locally salvaged, reclaimed and recycled materials
There is also a zero waste policy.
Ryan Palma started this all in his garage, and he believes his company represents a step toward the future of sustainable lumber.
“The lumber industry is full of tree huggers, we’re all tree huggers,” says Palma. “I mean we love the forest more than anybody and we take care of it. And I don’t think people understand that we’re the biggest advocates for healthy forests, its our livelihood. We like to hunt, fish, hike, bike, and enjoy it, and we live in it, so we need to take care of it.”
Palma says his company was chosen from among 35,000 applicants, and is the first company to ever be selected for the grant in Montana.
The first thing he plans to do is find a larger space to meet the growing demand of his small, family company.