MISSOULA, Montana (October 16, 2015) — Sustainable Lumber Company has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Chase. The five-year-old company, led by Ryan Palma, supplies eco-friendly handcrafted hardwood flooring and pre-fabricated wall panels for residential, industrial and commercial applications with customers including Starbucks and Caesar Palace, Atlantic City. The company was chosen from among 35,000 applicants to receive one of just 20 Mission Main Street Grants from Chase.
"Sustainable Lumber is one of 20 businesses that rose to the top of the field of over 30,000 applicants that truly reflects the spirit of this unique program.” said Jennifer Piepszak, CEO of Chase Business Banking. "We were inspired by scores of business owners, just like Sustainable Lumber Company owner, Ryan Palma, who are following their dreams, and embody the innovation, diversity and strength of America’s small businesses.”
Sustainable Lumber Company sources 100 percent of their products from locally- salvaged, reclaimed, recycled and sustainably harvested sources. The company has a zero waste policy, and thereby converts all unusable wood into renewable energy. In addition, all sawdust and chips resulting from lumber manufacturing are donated to local ranchers for animal bedding, and all #2 grade flooring is donated to Habitat for Humanity for low income housing. Sustainable Lumber is also actively involved with state and federal organizations in an effort to improve the overall health of forests in Montana.
Business owners from all 50 U.S. states submitted applications for this year’s Mission Main Street Grants program. More than 1.7 million votes were cast for the participating businesses. A team of small business experts chose the 2015 grant recipients from those eligible businesses that received at least 250 votes.
LinkedIn, the Premier Sponsor of Chase’s Mission Main Street Grants program, will be flying two representatives from each of the grant recipient businesses to Mountain View, California for a small business boot camp at its headquarters later this year. Those in attendance will have an opportunity to learn more about topics, such as how to leverage LinkedIn and other digital content strategies in order to grow their business.
Sustainable Lumber Company plans to use these grant funds to increase their supply by doubling their raw inventory to meet a steadily-increasing demand. The grant will also permit them to purchase equipment and implement a marketing budget to aid the company’s continued long term growth. They also plan to create additional jobs to ensure the continuation of their positive impact on the Missoula community.
For more information, visit Sustainable Lumber.
