Malheur Lumber Company, the last remaining commercial sawmill in John Day, has announced that it will close its doors after 41 years of operation. The company cited multiple reasons for the closure, including workforce issues, housing shortages, market conditions, rising manufacturing costs, and regulatory challenges.<\/p>\n
In its closing letter, Malheur Lumber Company detailed the primary factors behind the decision. A significant challenge has been the \"lack of a willful\/drug-free workforce,\" which has made it difficult to maintain consistent production levels. Additionally, the scarcity of housing has hampered efforts to recruit employees from outside the area, further exacerbating staffing issues.<\/p>\n
Market conditions have also played a critical role, with fluctuating lumber prices over the past few years affecting the company's profitability. The cost of manufacturing has risen due to inflation, and inconsistent production\u2014primarily due to the lack of employees\u2014has compounded these financial strains. Moreover, the company pointed to the \"continuing layering of governmental regulations upon small business in Oregon\" as an additional burden that has made operations increasingly unsustainable.<\/p>\n
The company plans to continue operating the facility until all existing log inventory has been processed into finished products. During this period, Sales and Shipping will work to fulfill customer orders. The closure will impact 76 full and part-time employees, and the company has committed to keeping them informed and assisting them as it develops next steps.<\/p>\n
Malheur Lumber Company also noted the recent closure of the bio-mass facility at their plant site and is currently exploring further related opportunities.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Malheur Lumber Company, the last remaining commercial sawmill in John Day, has announced that it will close its doors after 41 years of operation. The company cited multiple reasons for the closure, including workforce issues, housing shortages, market conditions, rising … Continue reading