On Tuesday, Georgia-Pacific officials told employees at Temple, a particle board plant in Monroeville, that the company’s composite panels segment will cease production operations in 60 to 90 days. Temple currently has 95 employees.
GP also announced it will shut down the Hope Particle Board Plant in Hope, Arkansas in 60 to 90 days, and the company has decided not to rebuild its particle board plant in Thomson, Ga., which was severely damaged by fire recently.
According to GP spokesman Rick Kimble, “Demand for particleboard remains flat and new mills from other producers will increase capacity in the market as much as 25 percent. These new mills are much larger than our mills, use state of the art technology and are much more efficient than our mills making it difficult for our assets to compete economically going forward.”
He added that Monroeville’s plant will continue production and shipping for the next 60 to 90 days.
“The company will ensure that all employees will be paid all earned wages and agreed upon benefits at the time of their discharge,” said Kimble. “We appreciate the dedicated service of all our employees. The decision to close these facilities is not a reflection on their efforts.”
Monroeville Mayor Sandy Smith said the news is a “blow to the community.”
“They say it’s due to the particle board market and the newer mills being able to produce it more efficiently,” she said. “We need to keep the employees in our prayers.”
Smith added that hopes are that most, if not all of the Temple employees, can be absorbed by the other mills in the county.
“They’re very qualified for the jobs they do and dedicated,” she said.
Monroe County Commissioner Corey Morrow said the news is “devastating” for the county.
“I’m concerned most because many of their employees are the breadwinners in their households,” he said. “It’s a sad day in the county.”
The Journal reached out to Monroe County Commission Chair and Probate Judge Sonya Stinson for comments, but she did not reply before The Journal went to press Wednesday afternoon.
