DEQUINCY, La. - Georgia-Pacific will shut down another plant - this time a lumber facility in DeQuincy, Louisiana. 188 employees will be out of a job.
The plant will close in the next 60 days. The company wrote on social media:
“Sharing difficult news: We will cease operations at our lumber facility in DeQuincy, Louisiana, in the next 60 days due to overall market conditions. This difficult decision will affect 188 of our hardworking employees. The current pandemic has put a strain on all construction markets, causing a severe change in forecasted future demand for lumber. We appreciate the dedicated service of our DeQuincy employees. The decision to close this facility is not a reflection on their efforts and we will maintain this facility in an 'idled’ state in hopes the market for lumber increases.”
The company said that the closure isn't permanent - that it's just a temporary idling. If markets improve, the facility could reopen. A small crew will be maintained to oversee the facility.
DeQuincy is a small town, and the town's mayor told KPLC News that it will be a strong blow to the community.
Employees are being encouraged to apply at the company's other facilities.
Georgia-Pacific has been sliding for the past year or so. Last October, it announced it would shut down production at two South Carolina wood product plants by the end of the year. 240 employees were laid off.
In June, it laid off 650 workers in Arkansas and shut down two plants. In April, the company shut down an Oregon plant - laying off 111 - and in February, shut down a Georgia plant - laying off 120. To make things worse, a May fire completely gutted a separate Georgia plant.
The company has blamed poor home building industry conditions for all shutdowns. More than a thousand employees have been laid off around the country in the past year.
The company has taken a proactive approach however, and is still expanding. After nearly two years of construction, its $150 million, 320,000-square-foot softwood lumber plant is nearing operation.
In November, GP opened a $135 million plant in Warrenton, Georgia. The company is also investing up to $70 million to upgrade its plywood and lumber operations in Gurdon, Arkansas, which it said will help it maintain 700 jobs. GP has invested more than $645 million in the past five years in its operations across Arkansas.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of lumber and composite panel products for use in cabinetry, furniture, casegoods, closet systems and other wood products. The company also produces related chemicals, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and consumer-related items, including bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging and office papers. The company operates approximately 200 facilities and employs approximately 35,000 people directly, and creates nearly 92,000 jobs indirectly.
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