Proposed wood-plastic composite extrusion plant in Darby gets boost from USDA

The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority received word Monday that it received $34,250 to help develop a business and marketing plan for a wood-plastic composite extrusion plant slated for Darby.

The money will come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is intended to spur rural economic development.

Corrine Gantt, project manager for the yet-to-be-built Darby plant, said she and other project leaders finished a preliminary feasibility study for the plant in November. Soon after, they met with Julie Foster, chairman of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority http://www.rceda.org/ , to discuss creating a comprehensive business plan and marketing study.

The plant, Gantt said, would use slash, or small-diameter timber, from fuels-reduction projects in the Bitterroot and combine it with recycled plastic to make construction-grade building materials.

Foster said she was impressed with plan and did her best to connect the project with the right funding organizations.

by ROD DANIEL- Staff Reporter

Full Story: http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2006/04/04/news/news04.txt