Reps. Griffey and MacEwen helping to coordinate job fair following announcement of Simpson Lumber mill closings

April 30, 2015

Thirty-fifth District state Reps. Dan Griffey and Drew MacEwen say they are working with Mason County community leaders to coordinate a job fair following Simpson Lumber’s announcement Tuesday that it would be closing its mills in Shelton. The mills are being sold to California-based Sierra Pacific Industries, which says it will not continue to operate them, but instead build a new mill in Shelton that’s expected to be operational sometime in 2017.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement last month by Shelton-based Olympic Panel Products that it was being bought by Swanson Group Manufacturing and relocated to Springfield, Oregon.

“The announcements from Olympic Panel Products and Simpson Lumber are devastating for many families in Mason County,” said Griffey, R-Allyn. “Drew and I are working hard to bring community leaders together in order to quickly find new jobs for the employees of both companies. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mason County Economic Development Council, as well as other groups, to help mitigate the impact of these closures.”

Founded in 1890, Simpson Lumber is one of the oldest forest products companies in the Pacific Northwest. The company produces Douglas Fir and Hemlock dimension lumber used in home construction.

“Simpson is part of the fabric of our community and has employed generations of Mason County residents,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “I am grateful to the Simpson family for 125 years of investment in our region. Mason County is and will continue to be a resilient community, and I am looking forward to bringing resources together to help those affected by the mill closures. I am hopeful Sierra Pacific will continue the tradition of investing in our community, and through the building of a new, modern mill in Shelton, contribute to a new chapter in the economic growth of our community.”

Griffey and MacEwen encourage any business owners who are hiring to contact their legislative offices or send an email to Lynn Longan, executive director of the Mason County Economic Development Council.