PORT ANGELES — Fifteen more employees are expected to begin work today at Peninsula Plywood as part of the company’s plan to gear up to start a second shift, President Josh Renshaw said.
“In another month we’ll be up to 150 people,” Renshaw said Tuesday.
“Our practical goal is to be up to 175 people in another six months to a year.”
Renshaw, who spoke to about 35 people at the Port Angeles Business Association meeting, said the mill on Marine Drive in Port Angeles was on track after its March opening.
“The simple fact is that the previous plant failed because the parent failed,” said Renshaw, who had worked as the sales manager for the mill when it was operated by Klukwan, an Alaskan native corporation and was known as KPly.
“The plant here produced a profit,” he added. “The challenge was getting anyone to believe that.”
Renshaw worked for two years to reopen the mill after it officially closed in April 2008, laying off 132 workers.
“The [Port of Port Angeles]was huge because there was such pessimism and some people were really ready to yank the plug at every next phase,” Renshaw said.
“But [Port Commission President] George Schoenfeldt really stepped up and defended us.
“If he hadn’t, this wouldn’t have been done.
“[State Rep.] Kevin Van De Wege [D-Sequim] was also essential in getting this done.”
Van De Wege represents the 24th District, which covers Clallam, Jefferson and part of Grays Harbor counties.
Renshaw said the 15 new jobs are the first step in building up to enough workers to start a second shift and ramp up the productivity of the mill.
Earthquake in Chile
The mill already has seen increased demand because of the Feb. 27 earthquake in Chile, Renshaw said.
Chile was a primary exporter worldwide of forest products and because much of the supply was either ruined or tied up after the earthquake, American mills were being mined for supplies, he said.
“Of course you never want to benefit because of someone else’s tragedy,” Renshaw said.
“But this did come at a good time, right in the beginning of our opening.”
Renshaw said that the demand for the type of products made by Peninsula Plywood has remained steady even through the collapse of the housing market.
The mill produces cedar plywood suitable for siding and other similar products.
“We are not a commodity producer,” he said.
“Our supplies do not go directly into house building, so it has remained steady even through the collapse.”
Profits staying here
Schoenfeldt said he was most pleased that the mill’s investors were primarily local people.
In addition to Renshaw, investors in Peninsula Plywood Group also include Grant Munro, former Port Angeles City Council member, and Wilmer Possinger Jr.
“What I think people tend to forget is that the money and the profits used to go to Alaska,” Schoenfeldt said.
“But now they are staying here and being utilized by the investors here on the Peninsula.”
Renshaw said in addition to the jobs and the profits, the mill also had budgeted $45,000 for utilities each month.
“I’ve also heard that a study done by the [Clallam County Economic Development Council] showed that from the 175 jobs, the money put back into the community will actually create 400 jobs in the area,” he said.
“And that is just the first turn of the dollar.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
