PORT ANGELES — Clallam County approved an $85,000 grant from its Opportunity Fund for the Port of Port Angeles to upgrade the publicly-owned facilities at Peninsula Plywood in Port Angeles.
It is unknown when the mill at 439 W. Marine Drive will begin hiring millworkers. Six managers are already in place. PenPly is bound by its lease to hire 60 people before the end of the year.
“We appreciate that the county and the port got together to get creative about ways to help this effort to create these jobs,” PenPly president and general manager Josh Renshaw said on Tuesday.
PenPly will lease the mill complex from the port, which owns the 19-acre site.
The property is the former location of the KPly mill. Prior owner Klukwan Inc., of Alaska closed the KPly mill in November 2007.
The new mill is expected to create as many as 175 jobs for the community.
After a meeting with Port of Port Angeles and PenPly officials, the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board voted 6-0 on Nov. 13 to recommend the grant request.
County Administrator Jim Jones also recommended grant approval to the three commissioners, who oversee the fund.
Use of money
The grant breaks down as follows:
• $35,000 to upgrade roof sealant.
• $30,000 to upgrade floor loading capacity.
• $20,000 to upgrade or replace the primary post supports.
The $85,000 will come from the county’s 2010 Opportunity Fund budget.
Port of Port Angeles Executive Director Jeff Robb, Port Angeles City Manager Kent Myers and PenPly Controller Lena Washke attended Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting at the Clallam County Courthouse.
“We’ll be down there cutting the ribbon with the first sheet of plywood in the first quarter of 2010,” Robb said.
“I think it’s a good example of the port, the city and the county working together to help PenPly,” Commissioner Steve Tharinger said.
“Obviously these dollars are going to the port, so it’s not going to the private entity, but it does address our mission to try and get more jobs into the community.”
KPly it laid off 132 employees in April 2008.
PenPly plans to produce 5 million board-feet of plywood per month with 172 employees.
“We’re happy to have these dollars and to be able to help make this happen,” Tharinger said.
Softwood focus
PenPly will focus on specialty softwood plywood products like cedar, fir and okoume siding, medium and high density overlays, sanded plywood and commodity plywood, according to its presentation to the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board.
“It’s a good partnership,” Commissioner Mike Chapman said.
“Best of luck to PenPly.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.