"Today's announcement is a collaborative effort between state, local, and private entities with a singular goal: to keep Oregonians working," said Governor Kitzhaber. "Choosing to rebuild is a testament to Swanson's commitment to Springfield and their employees, and also the entire state of Oregon, by keeping open a pathway to prosperity."
A massive fire destroyed the company's Springfield plywood and veneer mill in July 2014. The Governor's Regional Solutions Team and local leaders immediately contacted Swanson to offer their assistance in rebuilding.
Business Oregon, the state's economic development agency, will offer a $400,000 forgivable loan. The loan will be forgiven if Swanson meets specific job creation goals. The Regional Solutions Team also worked to ensure permitting issues for the rebuild were resolved swiftly.
"The fire that destroyed our plywood and veneer mill last summer has been a huge loss for our company," said Steve Swanson, the company's president and CEO. "We're very happy that we'll be able to reinvest into Springfield and create good jobs for the community. We'd like to thank Governor Kitzhaber, Sen. Lee Beyer and Mayor Christine Lundberg for their help in making this happen."
Swanson, a family-owned Oregon company that started at Superior Lumber Company in 1951, will rebuild the mill to produce high-value wood products for use in cabinets, sign and concrete forms. Swanson plans to start construction in summer 2015 and finish a year later.
"Oregon competes on the global stage and companies have the choice to do business anywhere," said Sean Robbins, director of Business Oregon. "We're thrilled that Swanson has chosen to rebuild right here at home."
"We are very excited that the Swanson Group has chosen to rebuild their mill in Springfield," said Springfield Mayor Lundberg. "We know a lot of work has been done to get to this point with many partners at the table. We look forward to working with the owners as they begin to rebuild and bring much needed jobs back to our community."