Forks – There’s a new lumber mill coming to the City of Forks.
Riverside Forest Products USA, a U.S. subsidiary of the successful Canadian company Riverside Industries, has signed a lease with the City of Forks to establish a sawmilling facility at the Forks Industrial Park.
Specializing in kiln-dried Hemlock and Green Douglas Fir dimensional lumber, the new mill will represent a capital investment of around $12 million and create 40–50 jobs in its first phase, averaging over $28 per hour plus benefits.
Plans call for a second production shift within 2–3 years, totaling 70–100 jobs in all.
In addition to the sawmill, Riverside intends to build a cogeneration power plant.
To support the company’s entry into Forks, the Clallam EDC secured a $200,000 state grant from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Funds, which will be used to reimburse the company for lighting and electrical upgrades they will install at the Industrial Park.