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Birch Equipment Celebrates 40 Years, Gains Federal DBE Certification

Jan. 11, 2012
Bellingham, Wash.-based Birch Equipment this week announced it is celebrating its 40th year in business in 2012. Birch Equipment first opened its doors in 1972, outlasted hostile take-over efforts in the mid-90s and continues to thrive despite the past few years of economic turmoil. Birch is a leading independently owned equipment rental and sales company serving the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska with seasonal coverage from Western Alaska to Montana.

Bellingham, Wash.-based Birch Equipment this week announced it is celebrating its 40th year in business in 2012. Birch Equipment first opened its doors in 1972, outlasted hostile take-over efforts in the mid-90s and continues to thrive despite the past few years of economic turmoil. Birch is a leading independently owned equipment rental and sales company serving the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska with seasonal coverage from Western Alaska to Montana.

To celebrate and thank customers, Birch is offering a special 40-percent off selected one-day rentals Tuesday-Thursday (9am) through the month of February. Customers are also invited to stop by any Washington location on Wednesday, Jan. 18, for equipment demos, in-store specials and refreshments.

The company also announced that it received Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Certification under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s DBE program.

According to records maintained by Washington State’s Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises, Birch Equipment is one of only two firms in the State of Washington with DBE Certification in the Construction Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers Industry (NAICS Code 423810) and the only company that provides such a wide range of equipment rental and sales options.

“DBE Certification allows Birch Equipment to participate in federally funded projects with both State and Federal DOTs,” said Jordan Mellich, fleet manager. “With DBE Certification, Birch will be able to help contractors and government agencies meet mandatory participation rates established for working with small and disadvantaged businesses on federally funded projects.”

The US Department of Transportation's DBE program was created to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts in the Department’s highway, transit, airport, and highway safety financial assistance programs. It is intended to create a “level playing field” in which DBE’s can compete fairly for contracts. The program also seeks to reduce burdens on small businesses. The Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises administers the DBE certification process for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Birch Equipment has operated with the same core management team for nearly two decades. The company specializes in rentals for manufacturing, government, industrial, marine and home improvement sectors. Birch is a distributor for more than 20 manufacturers including Genie, Gehl and Husqvarna.

Owned locally by Sarah Rothenbuhler, Birch Equipment has stores in Bellingham, Anacortes and Mount Vernon, Wash., and Sitka, Alaska. Birch is both DBE and WBENC certified. It is No. 91 on the RER 100.