Mothballed Lumber Mill Restarts, Restoring 70 Jobs

BEND, Ore. -- Interfor Pacific is ramping up production at its Gilchrist lumber mill and calling about 70 employees back to work.

The mill has been closed since February due to the slow housing market. Executive Rich Frazer says it was working at just half capacity for a year before that.

Now if all goes well, another 65 employees could be hired.

Frazer says the mill will run one shift per day. He says the restart could also put about 200 loggers, suppliers and workers in related industries back to work.

The mill is switching from products such as 2-by-4s to wood products used for furniture, paneling and decks.

Michael Manis owns a grocery and deli across the street from the mill. He said Wednesday the reopening is "what we were all praying for."