NEWS RELEASE
October 24, 2005

For more information contact:                             

Brian Hatfield, (360) 786-7745
hatfield_br@leg.wa.gov
or Antonio Sanchez, (360) 786-7786
sanchez_an@leg.wa.gov

Lt. Governor Convenes Legislative Panel to Review
Issues Around Grays Harbor Mill Closures

OLYMPIA – Lt. Governor Brad Owen will convene a special panel of legislators in Aberdeen Thursday to hear from community leaders about their concerns surrounding the closure of two mills in Grays Harbor County, as well as to explore ways to address those concerns.

The special meeting of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR) will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in the Hillier Union Building (HUB) of Grays Harbor College, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive. Members of the Twin Harbors’ “Coastal Caucus” and other legislative leaders also have been invited.

Owen, who chairs the committee, said he initiated the meeting at the request of Gov. Christine Gregoire following last week’s announcement by Weyerhaeuser to close its pulp mill in Cosmopolis and a sawmill in Aberdeen. The closures are expected to directly displace about 342 workers.

“This meeting will help inform the Legislature and the Grays Harbor community about the issues related to the impending mill closures, to identify the potential economic impact to the area and to provide key information on the appropriate agencies that can provide economic and other assistance,” the lieutenant governor said.

“We want to explore all avenues and identify any resources available to help minimize the impact of these closures on the people and economy of Grays Harbor,” Owen added. “The county has been through some very rough times through the years, and this most recent announcement is more bad news for everyone.  However, because we have dealt with this so many times we have learned some lessons on how to get through it.

 “Our hope now is to get a jump on the situation and get people the help that they will need and blast through any hurdles that may spring up on the way to getting that help,” Owen said.

Owen cited as an example legislation he sponsored in 1991 while a state senator that provided extended unemployment benefits, retraining and short-term assistance to Grays Harbor area families hurt by the decline of the timber industry there.  The legislation, known then as the “Bootstrap Bill,” was passed and signed into law.

The purpose of the LCEDIR is to study and review economic development issues that affect Washington State. It consists of the lieutenant governor, six state senators and six members of the state House of Representatives.

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