Billings Wood Products Company Utilizes Commerce Loan to Enhance Business Operations
In 2023, Montana Custom Millwork of Billings received a $420,000 loan from the Montana Department of Commerce to purchase new equipment to enhance business operations and efficiencies. The funding was through Commerce’s Montana Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund program.
“Commerce’s WP RLF program provides financial assistance to create or retain jobs in the wood products industry, targeting areas of the state where timber jobs were most threatened, particularly in counties with lumber mills and similar facilities,” said Montana Department of Commerce Deputy Director Mandy Rambo. “Commerce is proud to support Montana Custom Millwork through the loan program and we look forward to their continued success.”
Founded in February 2020, Montana Custom Millwork has steadily grown through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding into a standout small business in Montana’s wood products sector. The company offers a diverse product line that includes wood packing materials, custom-cut lumber, finished lumber and retail wood slabs for home décor.
Nick Chiasson, founder of MCM said, “The Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund gave us access to funding to expand our small sawmill by adding some much-needed working capital, bolster our log inventory, add equipment to improve efficiency and a kiln dryer to offer kiln-dried finished lumber products. With this funding, we've been able to increase the number of wood products we're able to produce and expand our market.”
MCM sources logs from local loggers across eastern Montana, working primarily with ponderosa pine, blue pine, Douglas fir and spruce. Their finished lumber products are precision-milled and kiln-dried to ensure ease of installation, including S4S boards, tongue and groove, shiplap, flooring and trim boards. In addition, MCM manufactures custom crates, pallets and storage solutions for steel and metal roofing companies and provides beautiful live-edge slabs ideal for furniture and design projects.
Currently, MCM employs nine full-time staff members and continues to grow.
For more information about the WP RLF program, visit commerce.mt.gov.
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