Montana Timber Economy

From: Emilie Ritter Saunders
Length: 03:57

Many timber operations are fighting to stay in business. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Montana Timber Economy
From: Emilie Ritter Saunders

Copy_small The timber industry has been on the decline in Montana for the last couple of decades. Some operations in the state are fighting to stay open. They're taking advantage of government grant and loan programs. And in some cases owners are pouring their own money into their mills.

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Piece Description

The timber industry has been on the decline in Montana for the last couple of decades. Some operations in the state are fighting to stay open. They're taking advantage of government grant and loan programs. And in some cases owners are pouring their own money into their mills.

Transcript

INTRO:

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE IN MONTANA FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES.
SOME OPERATIONS IN THE STATE ARE FIGHTING TO STAY OPEN.
THEY’RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENT LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAMS.
AND IN SOME CASES OWNERS ARE POURING THEIR OWN MONEY INTO THEIR MILLS.
LAST NIGHT WE REPORTED ON A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE PRISON AND SUN MOUNTAIN LUMBER.
THROUGH FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY THE STATE IS TRYING TO KEEP SOME STRUGGLING MILLS AFLOAT UNTIL THE MARKET TURNS AROUND.
CAPITOL REPORTER EMILIE RITTER HAS MORE FROM DEER LODGE…

SCRIPT:

((Nats TOUR: “This is where it all begins it comes in as the raw log, de-bark, its sorted here…etc etc…FADE UNDER VO)) Tour2.wav

SUN MOUNTAIN RUNS A FULL SCALE LUMBER OPERATION.
MASSIVE LODGE POLE PINE TREES FROM THE NEARBY FOREST RUN ON CONVEYER BELTS THROUGH A COMPLEX MILL SYSTEM…AND THEY COME OUT AS SMOOTH, CLEAN, TWO...
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