Pilot Rock Sawmill to Shutter, 62 Employees Affected

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Woodgrain Inc. declared its intention to permanently shutter its Pilot Rock sawmill.

The corporation announced that the sawmill operation at 600 NW Cedar St., Pilot Rock, Oregon, will close on or after September 1, 2025, in a WARN warning submitted to Oregon state regulators. It stated that 62 employees are expected to be impacted by the shutdown. The move is regarded as a component of the company's endeavors to integrate its activities with its sawmill site located in La Grande, Oregon.

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According to the organization, it is dedicated to making sure that the transfer is courteous and seamless. Additionally, it urged impacted workers to look for available jobs at its other neighboring locations.

The choice was not decided hastily, according to Greg Easton, vice president of Woodgrain's Millwork and Lumber division. Despite the dedication and hard work of its employees, he noted that smaller mills like Pilot Rock have found it challenging to remain competitive due to the wood products industry's continuous issues, which include growing costs and market pressures.

The Pilot Rock sawmill closure is the most recent in a string of sawmill closures that have occurred around Oregon in recent years. It comes after mill closures in John Day, Riddle, Toledo, Philomath, Springfield, and Banks.