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 NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development Idaho Public Affairs Officer: Angelina Rios www.rd.usda.gov/Idaho Press Contact: rd.press@usda.gov
 (Boise, ID April 13, 2026) – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Rural Business Cooperative Service Administrator J.R. Claeys announced $115.2 million across eight states through the Timber Production and 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. In Idaho, Tamarack Mill, LLC will receive $9 million.
“We cannot allow wildfires to devastate and destroy our rural communities,” said Claeys. “That’s why the USDA is taking this bold action to stop the destruction of our forestlands by investing in sawmills and wood processing facilities that support sustainable timber harvesting. Through the announcement made today, the Trump Administration is strengthening local businesses, driving rural prosperity, and supporting 485 jobs for hardworking Americans.”
“Mills play a vital role in Idaho’s timber economy, and this investment is more than supporting a mill," said Idaho State Director Rick D. Youngblood. “It’s about keeping rural economies strong, supporting rural communities, industries, jobs, loggers, landowners, farmers, and ranchers, reducing wildfire risk, and investing in the future of the towns that make Idaho who we are.”
It's about keeping rural economies strong, supporting rural communities, industries, loggers, landowners, farmers, and ranchers, reducing wildfire risk, and investing in the future of the towns that make Idaho who we are.”
Tamarack Mill, LLC in Idaho will utilize the Timber Production Expansion Program Guaranteed Loan Program to restructure high interest debt and complete the purchase and installation of key replacement production equipment that was destroyed in a facility fire that caused reduction in the mill's production capacity. This financing will support the family‑owned operation in restoring and expanding its production capacity.
Today’s announcement assists with projects in the states of California, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
These investments represent a commitment by the Trump Administration to expand American timber production by 25%, reduce wildfire risk, and save American lives and communities by strengthening domestic wood processing capacity.
“The value of National Forest Systems lands is demonstrated by providing various forest products, such as timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “The American forest products industry is critical to maintaining the health of the nation's forests. The Timber Production and Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program is one of many ways the Forest Service partners with the timber industry to maintain rural jobs, processing facilities, and an outlet for wood that needs to be removed from national forests.”
The Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program is made possible by a partnership between the USDA Rural Development and US Forest Service. The program helps address the wildfire crisis by investing in local sawmills that clear out dangerous fuel in our forestlands, helping to remove the most immediate threats to communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources. This program is available to qualified lenders whose loan applicants want to establish, reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility that processes ecosystem restoration byproducts from USDA Forest Service National Forest System lands.
For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway. The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making investment data accessible to the public.
For more information on these programs, view a list of contacts at www.rd.usda.gov/id. To update your subscription preferences and receive the latest news, project stories and stakeholder announcements, visit the USDA Rural Development subscriber page. To stay connected follow us on X at x.com/idaho_rd.
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