Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, has named Bennett Lumber Products, Inc. as the Small Business of the Month for February 2017. Bennett Lumber will be recognized in the Congressional Record of the U.S. Senate.

“Bennett Lumber epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit of Idaho,” said Risch. “It is not easy to grow and adapt in the ever-changing regulatory climate that impacts small business owners, especially those who deal with natural resources, but these challenges have not kept Bennett Lumber from thriving while at the same time making great efforts to manage land and forests sustainably. I am proud of the work that Bennett Lumber continues to do in Idaho and Washington, and am pleased to distinguish this company as the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Month.”

Led by a longtime lumberman, Mr. Frank Bennett, Bennett Lumber Products, Inc. is a family owned and operated company headquartered in Princeton, Idaho. The company has two highly efficient mills, one in Princeton, Idaho and the other in Clarkston, Washington. Bennett Lumber also owns and sustainably manages approximately 70,000 acres of forest lands throughout the Northwest. The Idaho location, originally known as Boones’ Mill, was purchased by Bennett Lumber in the early 1950’s. The company invested in upgrading the old mill’s equipment and modernized its processes in order to mill smaller dimension logs with a largely automated milling process. Always at the forefront of innovation in the lumber industry, Bennett Lumber implemented the use of a mechanical lumber sorter in 1972, which set the company apart as being ahead of its time. In addition to their commitment to innovation and efficiency, owners and employees of Bennett Lumber pride themselves on producing high quality products while also adhering to sustainable land management principles.

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to entrepreneurship and provides oversight of the Small Business Administration. The committee also researches, investigates and reports all problems relating to America’s small businesses to the full Senate. As Chairman, Risch will honor America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Senate each month.