Tuolumne County – Sierra Pacific Industries on Tuesday announced that it would be reopening a revamped sawmill in Sonora, where 130 jobs could be restored to the region. SPI and Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority issued a joint statement saying that they worked cooperatively to “retool the mill and restore jobs to the community.” Larry Cope, director of economic development for TCEDA, said it is “a major project that will not only bring jobs and investment to Tuolumne County, it will bring back a way of life.” Cope said the “facility will be tops in its class” and feature state-of-the-art technologies. The statement said “SPI is making a major investment in Tuolumne County by retooling its sawmill in Sonora, updating an older mill that closed there in 2009.” The facility will produce lumber from a wider array of log sizes than was possible under the older configuration. SPI area manager Ryan Land said SPI is “investing in the future of this community.” Land said: “Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area.” He said SPI “continues to invest in its forests and mills to grow more trees and enhance productivity while protecting the environment and creating jobs.” Retooling of the mill will be managed by SPI, which anticipates hiring local workers to help with the project. Remodeling of the old plant is expected to begin by mid-July, and the updated facility is projected to reopen for production in May of 2011. Reopening the mill “does not impact the SPI cedar fencing mill in Chinese Camp, which currently employs about 80 people,” Land said. The Sonora mill closed in July 2009 due to weakness in the lumber market, reduced timber harvests on nearby national forest lands and increasing state regulatory burdens, Land said. The mill at the time was configured to only accept larger-diameter logs. “When combined, these factors left us no choice but to close the plant,” Land said. About 130 employees were affected by the closure, and about that same number of employees will be hired when the retooled plant reopens. SPI spokesman Mark Pawlicki said “retooling this mill will help California meet its own demand for wood products, rather than importing lumber from faraway places with lower environmental standards.” He said the “time has come when more of the lumber needed in this state can be produced in California’s mills.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
Tuolumne County – Sierra Pacific Industries on Tuesday announced that it would be reopening a revamped sawmill in Sonora, where 130 jobs could be restored to the region. SPI and Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority issued a joint statement saying that they worked cooperatively to “retool the mill and restore jobs to the community.” Larry Cope, director of economic development for TCEDA, said it is “a major project that will not only bring jobs and investment to Tuolumne County, it will bring back a way of life.” Cope said the “facility will be tops in its class” and feature state-of-the-art technologies. The statement said “SPI is making a major investment in Tuolumne County by retooling its sawmill in Sonora, updating an older mill that closed there in 2009.” The facility will produce lumber from a wider array of log sizes than was possible under the older configuration. SPI area manager Ryan Land said SPI is “investing in the future of this community.” Land said: “Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area.” He said SPI “continues to invest in its forests and mills to grow more trees and enhance productivity while protecting the environment and creating jobs.” Retooling of the mill will be managed by SPI, which anticipates hiring local workers to help with the project. Remodeling of the old plant is expected to begin by mid-July, and the updated facility is projected to reopen for production in May of 2011. Reopening the mill “does not impact the SPI cedar fencing mill in Chinese Camp, which currently employs about 80 people,” Land said. The Sonora mill closed in July 2009 due to weakness in the lumber market, reduced timber harvests on nearby national forest lands and increasing state regulatory burdens, Land said. The mill at the time was configured to only accept larger-diameter logs. “When combined, these factors left us no choice but to close the plant,” Land said. About 130 employees were affected by the closure, and about that same number of employees will be hired when the retooled plant reopens. SPI spokesman Mark Pawlicki said “retooling this mill will help California meet its own demand for wood products, rather than importing lumber from faraway places with lower environmental standards.” He said the “time has come when more of the lumber needed in this state can be produced in California’s mills.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Latest from Tom
- Richard Forster previews this week's Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting with host, Tom Slivick. (2 of 2)
- Richard Forster on TSPN TV News December 7, 2015 (1 of 2)
- Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) Closed for Winter
- State HWY 89 Closed for the Winter
- Richard Forster on TSPN TV News November 23, 2015 (2 of 2)
