Client Solutions

ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT

American Loggers Council

Working with our client the American Loggers Council (ALC), we assist the Council in its mission to be the national voice of professional loggers, uniting independent loggers and log truck contractors with key resources, advocacy, education, and networking opportunities. Our services for the Council include event planning and hosting, support for the executive committee and board of directors, website and social media maintenance, and grant writing and administration services.

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, we administered the Biomass Transportation Incentive Pilot (BTIP) for ALC. This first-of-its-kind project helped address one of the biggest barriers to hazardous fuels reduction — the high cost of transporting low-value woody material from the forest to facilities where it can be put to productive use.

The pilot transported 113,226 green tons of wildfire fuels from 4,151 acres across nine National Forests in California and Oregon in less than eight months. Rather than being left in the woods or open-pile burned, the material was delivered to biomass power plants and a forest products facility for renewable electricity and other wood products.

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The success of the pilot helped lead to the development of the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance (HFTA) Program, a multi-year U.S. Forest Service program that provides financial assistance to help offset the cost of transporting forest products removed through hazardous fuels reduction projects. RRS continues to administer this work for ALC, helping coordinate the movement of material from National Forest lands to biomass and forest products facilities.

The program supports both forest health and the forest products industry by helping make needed fuels reduction treatments more economically feasible, reducing wildfire risk, and creating opportunities to put low-value forest material to productive use. ALC currently serves as a grant administrator for the program and works directly with biomass facilities to help move material off the landscape and into markets.

In 2025, the BTIP project team received the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award, the Department’s highest recognition, for the success of the pilot and its contributions to forest health, wildfire mitigation, renewable energy, and rural communities.
DATA ANALYSIS, RESOURCE PLANNING, AND UTILIZATION STUDIES

Missouri Shortleaf Pine Utilization Assessment

The Missouri Shortleaf Pine Utilization Assessment serves as a comprehensive and strategic resource for the Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri (FWAM), federal and state agencies, loggers, sawmills, and secondary wood product manufacturers by identifying key opportunities to expand markets for Missouri-grown shortleaf pine.

This study was initiated by FWAM with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the L-A-D Foundation, and the Mark Twain National Forest to address market constraints and the underutilization of Missouri’s shortleaf pine resource. By evaluating current and emerging market trends, industry capacity, and production feasibility, the report provides a clear roadmap for investment, innovation, and sustainable market expansion.

Strengthening markets will, in turn, support state-led priorities — such as those outlined in Missouri’s Comprehensive Conservation Strategy — while advancing broader landscape restoration goals, including the ones established in the Shortleaf Pine Initiative, Shortleaf Pine Restoration Plan. By integrating these objectives, the assessment presents a framework that balances economic growth, forest restoration, and the long-term sustainability of Missouri’s shortleaf pine resource.

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The report was divided into three parts:

Resource Assessment — A synopsis of the historical and ecological significance of shortleaf pine in the state and the restoration challenges associated with its sustainability. Utilizing USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis and project partners in Missouri’s shortleaf pine inventory, the resource is characterized by current distribution, ownership, age structure, diameter class, operability, and projected growth over the next 30 years.

Market Assessment — An in-depth analysis of Missouri’s forest industry capacity, wood utilization trends, growth-to-drain ratios and resource potential under various harvest scenarios. The report also examines the mechanical and physical properties of Missouri-grown, non-plantation shortleaf pine lumber, and explores potential forest products markets from shavings to mass timber. In addition, the assessment presents opportunities for industry collaboration, including the potential for developing a state-wide branding initiative: Missouri Shortleaf Pine — Strength Rooted in Tradition.

Business Plan — A sample business plan presenting the expansion of a shavings packaging facility into a manufacturing facility to procure local shortleaf pine and produce shavings in-house to their markets across the country. The business plan includes information on supply needs, processing equipment, labor requirements and production volumes. This business plan was used as the basis for a federal grant for a local Missouri pellet mill to increase utilization of shortleaf pine and brought in $1 million to the state.

This publication was produced for FWAM with support from the Missouri Department of Conservation in partnership with the L-A-D Foundation, the Mark Twain National Forest, and the Missouri Forest Products Association. The work this report is based on was funded in part by a grant from the USDA Forest Service.
VALUE-ADDED SUPPORT

Grant-Writing to Support Innovation, Sustainability, and Training of the Next Generation

Through our specialized grant-writing services, we have helped secure more than $20 million for our regional partners to achieve significant wins in wood products innovation, forest education, business development, and long-term resource land stewardship.

Recent Wood Innovations Grant Successes

In 2026, RRS worked with forest products businesses and industry partners on another round of successful USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant applications.

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Devereaux Sawmill, Inc. — Michigan

We worked with Devereaux Sawmill on its 2026 Wood Innovations Grant application to support continued expansion and investment in its Michigan sawmill operations.

The U.S. Forest Service awarded Devereaux $300,000 to expand sawmill production capabilities by more than 3 million board feet annually, contributing to domestic timber production in Michigan.

We also assisted Devereaux with a proposal submitted to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Although the project was not selected through the original Rural Development Fund Grant Program, MDARD’s evaluation committee recommended the proposal for funding through the Economic Development for Food & Agriculture Grant Fund Program.

Cooper & Sons Timber, LLC — Wisconsin

We prepared a 2026 Wood Innovations Grant application for Cooper & Sons Timber to support improvements to the company’s sawmill operations.

The Forest Service awarded the project $194,699 to upgrade sawmill processing technologies and increase production capacity in Wisconsin.

Missouri Forest Products Association — Missouri

RRS also worked with the Missouri Forest Products Association on its 2026 Wood Innovations Grant proposal. The Forest Service awarded MFPA $300,000 to establish a state wood use team focused on expanding forest products markets and supporting active forest management in Missouri.

This project follows other RRS work in Missouri, including the Missouri Shortleaf Pine Utilization Assessment, which identified opportunities to expand markets for Missouri-grown shortleaf pine. A business plan developed through that work was later used as the basis for a federal grant that brought $1 million to the state to increase utilization of shortleaf pine.

Together, the Devereaux, Cooper & Sons Timber, and Missouri Forest Products Association projects received $794,699 in 2026 Wood Innovations Grant funding.

These recent successes build on our previous grant-writing work with clients such as Ottawa Forest Products and our continued support for forestry education and workforce development projects. Our goal is to help clients develop strong projects, identify the right funding opportunities, and move good ideas from planning to implementation.

Expanding Forestry Education at Forest Park School

In partnership with Forest Park Schools, we worked with VanOss Forestry to coordinate a major school forest event in 2025 that engaged nearly 300 participants — including over 250 students, in grades 6-12, teachers, conservation professionals, and industry leaders.

Hands-on learning stations featured contributions from the Michigan DNR, U.S. Forest Service, Iron/Baraga Conservation District, American Bird Conservancy, NRCS, MSU Forestry Technician Program, Shamco, and VanOss Forestry, who also serves as the school forester. Students explored tree identification, forest management, conservation law, wildlife, forest sector careers, and wood products manufacturing.

The event was supported in part by the John E. Force Forestry Education Fund, which helped cover costs to make the trip possible. The collaboration between RRS, VanOss Forestry, Forest Park School District, local partners and industry professionals, along with JEFFEF funding, gave students a firsthand look at how sustainable forest management, industry innovation, and education all work together in Michigan’s forest sector.

“This trip helped me see that forestry isn’t just about trees — it’s about people, wildlife, and keeping things balanced,” remarked one excited Forest Park High School student. “I could really see myself doing this kind of work some day.”

Supporting the John E. Force Forestry Education Fund

We also continue to work closely with the Sustainable Resources Institute (SRI) on the John E. Force Forestry Education Fund. Since its creation in 2015, JEFFEF has supported over 3,000 students with more than $15,000 in funding for forestry education, including field trips, classroom resources, and improvements to public forest areas.

The fund honors the legacy of consulting forester John E. Force, who dedicated his career to teaching young people about forestry and natural resources. Contributions to the fund can be sent to the Sustainable Resources Institute, 337 Superior Avenue, Crystal Falls, MI 49920, and are fully tax deductible.
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Restoring Critical Deer Habitat in the Upper Peninsula

For nearly a decade, we have partnered with the Sustainable Resources Institute (SRI), Safari Club International, landowners, foresters, and wildlife professionals to improve habitat conditions and landscape connectivity for game, non-game, and sensitive species across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Our work has included developing winter shelter through conifer planting, small-scale deciduous mast plantings, forestry mulching, conifer release treatments, invasive species management, and other habitat improvements. We have also worked directly with landowners to promote sustainable forest management through timber harvests, forest management planning, and connections with consulting foresters.

Using funding from Safari Club International and grants from the Michigan DNR Wildlife Habitat Grant Program, these projects have covered more than 500 acres across the Upper Peninsula, helping maintain, restore, and regenerate critical deer habitat.

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Continuing the Work Through Winter Whitetails

Building on that history, we are now working with SRI to support the development of the Winter Whitetails Project, a new effort dedicated to the management and preservation of deer winter range in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Winter Whitetails is focused on directing funding to worthwhile habitat projects on private lands within, or within approximately one mile of, deer winter range. The project is an independent effort that builds on previous U.P. deer habitat work.

RRS and SRI are helping get the new effort off the ground through project administration, communications and outreach, development of project materials, and coordination with the people and organizations involved.

Winter Whitetails provides a way to continue the habitat work developed over the past decade while bringing landowners, conservation partners, funding sources, and technical expertise together around the long-term management of critical deer winter range in the Upper Peninsula.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Educating a Broad Cross-Section of Professionals on the “Why’s” and “How’s” of Mass Timber

To promote Michigan’s growing mass timber industry, we partner with Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources (MDNR) to convene an annual educational gathering of architectural, design, construction, and forest industry professionals, academics, and students engaged in mass timber projects, research, and initiatives.

A key part of our education and outreach regime is not only time spent in classrooms learning the latest tools and trends in mass timer, but actually getting to see the beginning stages and end results of mass timber projects in action.

For instance, to demonstrate the beauty and utility of this unique building material, the annual Michigan Mass Timber Update event is held on-site at a mass timber building or project location in Michigan. Events have taken place in MSU’s mass timber building in East Lansing, at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center in Detroit, at Adelaide Point in Muskegon, and at the Kalamazoo Country Club in Kalamazoo.

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Mass timber is an umbrella term for a variety of huge, engineered wood building construction materials that can be used like steel or concrete in large buildings — even skyscrapers. After emerging in Europe about 40 years ago, mass timber materials are now gaining market share across the United States and in Michigan because they offer benefits including efficient construction and a lower carbon footprint.

Mass timber demand has more than quintupled in the U.S. since 2018, and Michigan now has more than 50 mass timber buildings in the pipeline, which is why people are looking to Michigan as a mass timber leader in the Great Lakes Region and Eastern United States.

Recent advancements in Michigan include:

Adoption of the 2021 Michigan Building Code which defines three new mass timber building types, including a category of up to 18 stories.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) completion of its new customer service center in Newberry, the first building to use mass timber panels made from Michigan red pine.

The state’s 2025 budget includes a $1 million investment — to be programmed by the DNR — to “aid in the research and development of a mass timber market in Michigan.”