TOLEDO, Ore. - North American lumber giant Georgia-Pacific has donated $25,000 to a STEM program in Oregon.
Receiving the donation was the Oregon Coast STEM Hub, an organization that pushes STEM and technical career education throughout the state.
“We support STEM because it encourages students to think critically, increases science literacy and empowers the next generation of innovators,” said Loria Holden, health and safety leader at the Toledo mill. “STEM also encourages students to pursue studies that may eventually lead to a career in the wood products and paper industry, of which GP is a global leader.”
“We’re delighted to have Georgia-Pacific as one of our business partners to help grow STEM and CTE skills among students and those aspiring to join the workforce,” said Dr. Lisa Blank, OCSH executive director. “Most careers and real-world challenges are multi-disciplinary. STEM and CTE introduce students to career pathways and provide core academic, employability and technical skills. GP’s support offers us additional opportunities to expand our reach.”
Late last year, the struggling Georgia-Pacific opened a $135 million plant in Georgia.
In October 2019, 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 were laid off around the country in 2019.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries manufacture and market building products and related chemicals, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and consumer products, including bath tissue, paper towels, napkins, and tableware. The company operates more than 180 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly.
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