This wood products infrastructure assistance project provides the addition of a dryer, burner, and conveyer system to the existing pellet mills

Forest Products Distributors, Inc. received a $1.0M project grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service under the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act Financial Assistance to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts for Ecosystem Restoration program (CFDA 10.725), awarded on August 12, 2025. The grant supports infrastructure modernization at the awardee's pellet mill facility in Rapid City, South Dakota through the acquisition and installation of wood products processing equipment, specifically a dryer, burner, and conveyer system to complement existing pellet mill operations.

The project will enhance production capacity and safety standards while enabling the facility to process approximately 80,000 green tons of biomass annually. This modernization aligns with the federal program's core objective of creating viable commercial markets for restoration byproducts sourced from high-priority ecological restoration areas on federal and Tribal lands in the Rocky Mountain Region. The project performance period extends from the August 12, 2025 award date through the June 30, 2028 ultimate completion date, positioning the facility to support sustainable forest management and rural economic development through increased biomass utilization from ecosystem restoration activities.

This modernization will increase production capacity and enhance safety standards. The improved production of the pellet mill will increase production and processing of 80,000 green ton of biomass.