The business structure is organized so that the majority of shares in Lomakatsi Ecological Services, Inc. (LES) will always be owned by Lomakatsi Restoration Project. As the for-profit arm and contractual entity of Lomakatsi, LES is structured as a “C Corporation” in the state of Oregon. It operates as a completely separate business entity but is one of the nonprofit’s programs toward achieving our mission.
This organizational structure is designed so portions of potential profits earned from contracts can then be donated by LES to Lomakatsi, to support the nonprofit’s generally underfunded programs, such as our education and outreach efforts. In addition to the profits being used to support Lomakatsi’s nonprofit programs, restoration workers also share in the profits and receive health and retirement benefits.
This innovative business structure has given LES the ability to procure multi-year, large-scale restoration forestry and watershed enhancement contracts with federal land management agencies that would have been out of reach for a nonprofit corporation like Lomakatsi Restoration Project. More employment opportunities for the workforce and the associated service and timber subcontract outfits we work with have been created. And this in turn has increased our ability to fulfill our mission of restoring ecosystems, creating green jobs, and building the skills of workers.
LES also provides services to private landowners who hire us to implement fuel hazard reduction and restoration work. Lomakatsi’s staff of resource professionals also assists landowners with planning forestry and restoration projects and with drafting stewardship plans.
Both Lomakatsi and LES are managed by Executive Director Marko Bey and other leadership staff. Many of Lomakatsi’s key personnel and workforce work for both corporations.
