Tim Reader, wood utilization and marketing specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service, manages the Wildfire Risk Mitigation Loan Fund, and he was named the Lender Partner of the Year by Region 9 Economic Development on Jan. 30, 2025.
“We greatly appreciate this recognition as Region 9’s Lending Partner of the Year,” Reader said. “Region 9 and our economic development community across the state are helping the CSFS make significant impact not only to our forests, but also to the economic health of the businesses and people that work in them.”
The Wildfire Risk Mitigation Loan Fund provides community-based financial lending capital to support forest and wood products businesses and complements traditional grant programs.
News Release from Region 9 Economic Development
The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado (Region 9 EDD) has awarded the Colorado State Forest Service Loan Fund leads, Tim Reader and Randy Johnson, with their annual Lender Partner of the Year Award.
Tim Reader is the Wood Products Utilization and Marketing Program Specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). He oversees the Forest Business Loan Fund and is responsible for supporting businesses harvesting and manufacturing forest products. Randy Johnson, with Mondo Business Group, works closely with Reader to provide business development assistance and support specifically to the CSFS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Loan Fund.
Reader and Johnson were chosen for this year’s award for their referrals to the program, their professionalism working with business clients, and for the tremendous impact this program has statewide and in Southwest Colorado.
“The CSFS greatly appreciates being recognized by our partners at Region 9. The expertise they bring to our timber industry lending is a critical contribution to ensuring we have a viable industry to support forest management across the state,” said Tim Reader.
Region 9 EDD has been participating since October 2023, and since that time have approved Forest Service loans totaling $537K in loans to seven companies across the state, and have another $225,000 in the pipeline.
CSU initially contracted with Region 9 EDD for $500,000 in loan funding and has subsequently been increased to $1.5 Million.
Region 9 EDD Deputy Director Brian Rose said, “This partnership provides a concrete way for our organization to assist businesses that are utilizing timber and biomass, improving forest health and creating jobs.”
Reader and Johnson were also instrumental in encouraging Region 9 EDD to apply for USDA Rural Development funding for Business Development Zone study to look at Southwest Colorado’s biomass and business potential across private, federal, county and state forest lands. Study results will be available later in 2025.
Reader and Johnson join past awardees that include Cassie Alexander, First National Bank-Cortez; Chris Aiken, Dolores State Bank; Eric Jones, Bank of San Juans; and lending partner organizations such as the Southwest Small Business Development Center.
The award was announced at Region 9 EDD’s Annual meeting on January 30, 2025, and presented by Kris Oyler, Region 9 Loan Committee Vice Chair.
This award was established by Region 9’s Loan Committee which includes 12 members, two from each county and two at-large. For more information, Region 9 EDD can be contacted at 970-247-9621 – region9edd.org.