Timber Professionals Cooperative Enterprises will use a Rural Development loan of $800,000 to re-open and expand the former Hoffman Wood Fiber LLC sawmill in Shawano County.
The investment is through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The cooperative will use guaranteed loan funds to purchase more than 49 acres of real estate and equipment. The equipment will allow TCPE to improve the efficiency of manufacturing wood chips. The project also includes plans to expand capabilities of the site to manufacture new, higher-value products from the same raw materials. The project will create six jobs, with additional staffing added as the sawmill expands.
“This project is a win for Wisconsin’s economy, consumers who want American-made products, and for forest management, which will help keep Wisconsin forests safe and reduce wildfire risk,” said Wisconsin State USDA Rural Development Director Andrew Iverson.
TPCE plans to implement a detailed process to improve productivity involving processes in the wood yard, chip mill, and maintenance department to improve productivity. Installation of an automatic log feed deck and more updates will help increase production from 2,500 to 4,000 tons per month.
