John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, toured the Columbia Forest Products plywood mill in Hearst today to see modernization efforts after a big government grant.
"Ontario is supporting the expansion of Columbia's plywood mill by investing $3.2 million over five years to help create and retain almost 350 good jobs and boost economic growth in the towns of Hearst and Rutherglen," according to a government news release.
"Our investment is helping the mill maximize production capacity, develop new products and secure its position as a leading hardwood plywood manufacturing plant in North America,".said Yakabuski.
Columbia Forest Products operates 13 manufacturing facilities in North America and is an industry leader in hardwood plywood veneer, supplying wholesale distributors, large cabinet manufacturers and mass merchandisers.
"The continued support of the Ontario government, our local community, and our workers have enabled this mill to become a leading, top-quartile manufacturing facility," said Gilles Levesque, Director for Canadian Operations, Columbia Forest Products.
"To date, the expansion project has created 30 new full-time positions at the Hearst and Rutherglen mills."
