BOISE, ID - Boise Cascade Holdings LLC, coming off a much-improved third quarter, is looking to hire up to 60 more people at its plywood mill in White City, OR.

Boise Cascade posted a net profit of $23.5 million on sales of $764.5 million for the third quarter compared to a loss of $3.7 million on $628.0 total sales in the third quarter of 2011.

The 22% increase in Boise Cascade's third quarter sales reflected an approximately 28% improvement housing starts during the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011.

Three consecutive quarters of earnings improvement are "underscored by strong plywood prices," said Tom Carlisle, CEO of Boise Cascade. "Our recently completed debt refinancing, has strengthened our liquidity position and allows us greater flexibility to take advantage of improvement in the markets and of business opportunities.”

Carlisle says, "We are encouraged by the improved operating environment and remain cautiously optimistic the recent improvement in demand for our products will carry into 2013.”

That optimism is being felt at the White City Plywood plant, which Boise Cascade is in the process of expanding production since ramping up last winter. The the plant, which was scheduled to be shut down permanently in March 2010, resulting in the layoff of 110 workers. Boise Cascade is looking to add a second shift to bring the plant to capacity.

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